Coq au Vin

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tbspolive oil
• 3 1/2 ozbacon, dry-cured, chopped; about 3 slices
• 12shallots, small, whole
• 2chicken legs, about 460g
• 4chicken thighs, about 650g
• 2chicken breasts, about 280g; added later in cooking
• 3 clovegarlic, finely chopped
• 3 tbspbrandy, or Cognac
• 2 1/2 cupsred wine
• 2/3 cupchicken stock
• 2 tsptomato paste
• 3 sprigthyme, for bouquet garni
• 2 sprigrosemary, for bouquet garni
• 2 leafbay leaves, for bouquet garni
• 9 ozchestnut mushrooms
• 2 tbspall-purpose flour, for thickener
• 1 tspbutter, for thickener
• parsley, chopped; for garnish

Method

1. 1

   Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan or flameproof casserole and fry the chopped bacon until crisp. Lift it onto paper towels.

2. 2

   Fry the whole shallots in the bacon fat for 5–8 minutes, shaking the pan often, until they are browned all over. Set them aside with the bacon.

3. 3

   Pat all the chicken dry with paper towels. Wet skin will not brown.

4. 4

   Add the rest of the oil and brown half the chicken for 5–8 minutes, turning the pieces regularly, then lift them out and do the same with the other half.

5. 5

   Scatter the garlic into the pan and fry it briefly, then pour in the brandy with the heat at medium-high, scraping the base of the pan as it sizzles and reduces to almost nothing.

6. 6

   Return the chicken legs and thighs with their juices, splash in a little of the red wine and scrape the base again, then pour in the rest of the wine with the stock and the tomato paste.

7. 7

   Tie the thyme, rosemary and bay leaves into a bundle and drop it in. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt, and return the bacon and shallots to the pan.

8. 8

   Cover, drop to a gentle simmer, add the chicken breasts and cook for 50 minutes to an hour. The breasts go in last because they cook far faster than the legs.

9. 9

   Near the end, heat a drizzle of oil in a non-stick skillet over high heat and fry the mushrooms for a few minutes until golden. Keep them warm.

10. 10

    Lift the chicken, shallots and bacon into a warmed serving dish and fish out the herb bundle.

11. 11

    Work the flour, a little olive oil and the butter into a smooth paste with the back of a teaspoon. Bring the wine sauce to a gentle boil and whisk the paste in a pinch at a time until it thickens, then simmer for 1–2 minutes.

12. 12

    Scatter the mushrooms over the chicken, pour the sauce across and finish with chopped parsley.