Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

This recipe is drawn from many sources, but has heavy influence from Julia Child. Coq au Vin is a classic French dish, and a wonderfully easy way to cook a delicious chicken. Make sure you blanch the bacon or the dish will come out too salty. Directions on blanching the bacon are included in the recipes. So, without further adieu, on to the recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb bacon slices
  • 20 pearl onions, peeled, or 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 3 lbs chicken thighs and legs, excess fat trimmed, skin ON
  • 6 garlic cloves, peeled
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups red wine (pinot noir, burgundy, or zinfandel)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Several fresh thyme sprigs
  • Several fresh parsley sprigs
  • 1/2 lb button mushrooms, trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

Blanch the bacon by adding it to a saucepan or deep skillet filled with enough water to cover the bacon, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Strain and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the bacon into small pieces (1 inch or so).

Brown the bacon for about ten minutes over medium heat in a dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken (or a large stock pot if you don’t have a dutch oven). Remove the bacon and set aside, but leave the bacon grease in the pan (yum, so healthy).

Add the chicken skin side down to the dutch oven (or stock pot if that’s what you’re using). Add the onions. Brown the chicken on all sides, this should take about ten minutes. Add the garlic and salt about half way through the browning process.

Spoon off any excess fat. Add the chicken stock, wine, and herbs. Replace the bacon you removed earlier. Lower the heat down to a simmer and cook covered for about twenty minutes until the chicken is tasty and tender. Remove the chicken and onions and place them aside. remove all of the herbs and garlic and throw them away.

Add mushrooms to the remaining liquid and return to a boil. You’re going to make a reduction sauce with this remaining liquid, so continue boiling until about 1/4 of the liquid remains. Lower to a simmer and stir in the butter. Replace the chicken and onions and mix well, thoroughly coating with the sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve with potatoes, or over egg noodles.

Serves six.

Comments

  1. i do not eat bacon can i leave it out also does the wine have to be any of the types listed

  2. Dear Dolly, I suggest you try a totally different recipe. You said you don;’t eat bacon. Yet the bacon grease and flavor is mixed into it. In for a penny. In for a pound. Of course one may use any red wine. Very cheap red wine from the Bowery will dilute and not bolster the flavor. I have no idea what you are trying to make but it certainly is not coq au vin. It’s like you are trying to make a chocolate cake but you want to leave out the chocolate and eggs.

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