Braised Chicken With Shallots Recipes

EASY WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the spices to make the spice mixture.
• Pat chicken dry and season well with salt on both sides. Now season with the spice mixture on both sides (make sure to lift skin up and rub some of the spice mixture underneath.) Leave aside for 20 minutes or refrigerate uncovered for 2 hours if you have the time.
• In a large braiser or Dutch oven (like this one), heat 1 to 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking (be sure to coat the bottom well with the EVOO.) Add chicken, skin side down, and cook undisturbed for 8 minutes until golden brown (lower heat if it starts to smoke excessively.) Turn chicken over and brown on the other side briefly (about 3 minutes). Transfer chicken to a plate for now.
• To the pot, add shallots and garlic. Cook briefly over medium heat until softer and fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, wine, and broth. Add bay leaves and 1tsp dry rosemary. Season with just a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer for 4 minutes or so.
• Carefully nestle chicken into the liquid, making sure the liquid covers only 3/4 of the chicken thighs leaving the skins exposed. Add dry figs (or apricots) to the pot. Bring to a simmer.
• Transfer chicken to oven and cook, uncovered, until totally tender and liquid has reduced by about half, about 40-45 minutes (Check half way through to be sure liquid is okay, you should still have some liquid in the end.)
• While chicken is cooking, heat a small non stick pan, adding a very small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add mushrooms and saute.
• About 10 minutes or before the chicken has finished cooking, add mushrooms. Return to oven for those last 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Finish with lemon juice and a garnish of fresh parsley.
• Serve with Lebanese rice (making sure to get some of the pan juice on top). Add a side of Greek Bean salad, of balela salad or fattoush salad.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS, GARLIC, AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and reserve bacon fat in skillet.
• While bacon is cooking, pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown, beginning with skin sides down, in 2 batches in bacon fat over moderately high heat, turning, about 8 minutes. Transfer chicken as browned with tongs to a plate and pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet.
• Add shallots to skillet and cook over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft and pale golden, about 10 minutes.
• Remove lid and cook shallots, stirring, until deep golden, about 10 minutes more. Add garlic and 1 cup water to skillet and boil, stirring, 1 minute.
• Return chicken to skillet, turning pieces to coat, then arrange them skin sides up and gently simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through and garlic is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer chicken with tongs to a serving dish. Add vinegar to sauce and boil, uncovered, mashing garlic with back of a spoon, until slightly thickened. Season sauce with salt and pepper and pour over chicken, then sprinkle with bacon.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Place flour in a shallow bowl. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt and pepper; dredge in flour, turning to coat and shaking off excess.
• In a Dutch oven or heavy 5-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium-high. Cook chicken until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Add shallots and garlic to pot; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add wine; cook until evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in mustard and the water; bring to a boil. Return chicken, bone side down, to pot. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover, and cook until chicken is tender and cooked through (juices should run clear when pierced), 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Add tomatoes to pot; season with salt and pepper. Cook over high heat until tomatoes soften and sauce thickens, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and return chicken to pot; cook until heated through. Serve, garnished with tarragon, if desired.
• To make ahead, let cool completely, then refrigerate in a covered dish up to 2 days. To serve, reheat over medium-low, stirring frequently.