Quick CardCoq au Vin
4 servings
Bacon and Chicken
- 85 to 115 gchunk of lean bacon, rind removed, cut into sticks
- ≈ 27 gcooking oil
- 1130 to 1360 gcut-up frying chicken
- ≈ 3 gsalt
- ≈ 0.3 gblack pepper
- ≈ 56 gcognac
- ≈ 1890 gwater for blanching
Simmering in Red Wine
- ≈ 705 gyoung red wine, such as Burgundy, Mâcon or Chianti
- ≈ 240 to 480 gbeef stock
- ≈ 17 gtomato paste
- ≈ 6 ggarlic, mashed
- ≈ 0.3 gdried thyme
- ≈ 0.2 gbay leaf
Brown-Braised Onions
- 180 to 360 gsmall white onions
- ≈ 14 to 27 gcooking oil
- ≈ 1.5 to 3 gsalt
Sautéed Mushrooms
- 225 gfresh mushrooms
- ≈ 14 gbutter
- ≈ 7 gcooking oil
Sauce and Serving
- ≈ 23 gflour
- ≈ 28 gbutter, softened
- parsley sprigs, to taste
- Bacon and Chicken Cut the rind off 85 to 115 g chunk of lean bacon and slice the bacon into sticks about 2.5 cm (1 in) long and 6 mm (¼ in) thick.
- Simmer the bacon sticks in 1890 g water for blanching for 10 min. Drain, rinse in cold water and dry well. 95 °C
- Sauté the bacon slowly in 27 g cooking oil in the casserole over moderate heat (an electric skillet set to 127 °C). When it is very lightly browned, lift it out to a side dish and leave the fat in the pan.
- Dry 1130 to 1360 g cut-up frying chicken thoroughly in a towel. Raise the heat (182 °C in an electric skillet) and brown the pieces on all sides in the hot fat. 10 min to 15 min
- Season the chicken with 3 g salt and 0.3 g black pepper, return the bacon, cover and cook slowly (149 °C) for 10 min, turning the chicken once.
- Uncover, pour in 56 g cognac and light it with a match. Shake the pan back and forth for several seconds until the flames die down.
- Simmering in Red Wine Pour 705 g young red wine, such as Burgundy, Mâcon or Chianti over the chicken and add just enough 240 to 480 g beef stock to cover it. Stir in 17 g tomato paste, 6 g garlic, 0.3 g dried thyme and 0.2 g bay leaf.
- Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer slowly for about 30 min, until the chicken is tender. Start the onions and mushrooms meanwhile.
- Brown-Braised Onions Drop 180 to 360 g small white onions into a pan of boiling water, bring it back to the boil and boil for 1 min. Drain.
- Shave off the ends, slip off the skins and cut a deep cross into each root end with a small knife, so the onions stay whole as they cook.
- Heat 14 to 27 g cooking oil in a frying pan, add the onions and toss them for several minutes until lightly browned. 4 min to 6 min
- Pour in water to come halfway up the onions, add 1.5 to 3 g salt, cover and simmer slowly for 25 min to 30 min, until tender.
- Sautéed Mushrooms Trim the base of the stems from 225 g fresh mushrooms, wash caps and stems quickly in cold water and dry them in a towel. Quarter the caps and cut the stems on the bias into chunks of a similar size.
- Heat 14 g butter and 7 g cooking oil in a frying pan. When the foam is bubbling hot, add the mushrooms and sauté over high heat for 4 min to 5 min, until lightly browned.
- Sauce and Serving When the chicken is tender, pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan. Skim off the fat and, if the flavour needs concentrating, boil the liquid down.
- Take the pan off the heat. Blend 28 g butter and 23 g flour to a smooth paste in a saucer and beat it into the liquid with a wire whisk.
- Bring back to the simmer, stirring, and simmer for 1 min to 2 min until the sauce has thickened.
- Scrape in the onions and mushrooms and simmer for 1 min to blend the flavours. Taste carefully, adding salt and pepper if needed, then pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Shortly before serving, bring to a simmer while basting the chicken with the sauce, then cover and simmer slowly for 4 min to 5 min, just until the chicken is hot through. Do not overcook it now.
- Serve from the casserole, or arrange on a hot platter and decorate with parsley sprigs.
- Safety: Poultry should reach 74 °C (165 °F) at the centre. (USDA FSIS)
- Safety: Pour the cognac in off the flame and light it with a long match, keeping your face and sleeves well back; the flames die down on their own in a few seconds. (The author)
- Safety: Chicken is safe when the thickest part of the thigh reaches 74 °C. (The author)