Coq au Riesling
(from ksox’s recipe box)
SUGGESTED PAIRING
This creamy braised chicken is fantastic with rich-but-dry Rieslings from Austria’s Wachau, made with the harvest’s ripest grapes.
Source: Andrew
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 90 minutes
Serves 4 people
Categories: pheasant
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken legs, split
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, chopped
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- 2 medium shallots, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups dry Riesling
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound mixed mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 cup crème fraîche
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Finely chopped tarragon, for garnish
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 300°. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large, enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil. Add half of the chicken and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until browned, 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Cook the remaining chicken, then pour off the fat and wipe out the casserole.
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Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of canola oil in the casserole. Add the onion, carrot, celery and shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened and lightly browned, 8 minutes. Add the wine and simmer for 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits from the pot. Add the chicken stock and thyme and bring to a boil.
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Nestle the chicken in the casserole; cover and braise in the oven for 1 hour, until tender.
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Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and cook over high heat, without stirring, until well browned, 5 minutes. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes; transfer to a plate.
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Transfer the chicken to a plate. Strain the braising liquid through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl, pressing on the solids; skim off the fat. Return the braising liquid to the casserole and boil until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the crème fraîche and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms and chicken to the sauce and simmer for 3 minutes. Garnish with tarragon and serve.