Chicken Bonne Femme Recipes

POULET BONNE FEMME

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot, and, fry the chicken and potatoes till brown all over.
• Remove from pot and set aside.
• Add the shallots and bacon to the pot and fry gently till softened.
• Add the flour and stir well fry for 2 minutes.
• Add the stock and blend into the flour to make a sauce.
• Add the mushrooms, wine, bouquet garni.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to the boil, reduce heat, add the chicken and potatoes, then simmer for 40 mins or till chicken is tender.
• Remove bouquet garnis, serve the chicken with the sauce poured over, and garnish with chopped parsley.

CHICKEN BONNE FEMME

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and reserve, leaving the fat in the skillet. Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper, then dust lightly with the flour. Cook the chicken in the rendered bacon fat over high heat until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken pieces to an ovenproof platter and keep warm.
• Add the ham, green onion, and yellow onion to the skillet in which you cooked the chicken and sauté until the onions turn translucent. Add the mushrooms, wine, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco, and bring to a boil. After a minute, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.
• Pour the oil into a deep skillet to a depth of 1 inch and heat to 375 degrees. Add the potatoes and fry until very lightly browned. Drain them well and add to the skillet with the ham and onions. This is bonne femme garnish.
• Continue simmering the garnish until all of the liquid is absorbed; lightly stir to distribute the ingredients. Remove from heat.
• Heat the butter in a small saucepan until it starts bubbling. Lower the heat, skim the foam off, and add the garlic. Cook the garlic in the hot butter for about a minute.
• Spoon the bonne femme garnish over and between the chicken pieces. Spoon the garlic butter over the garnish and season to taste with salt and pepper. Crumble the reserved bacon over the top.
• Bake for 7-12 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces, redistribute the garnish, and bake for another 5-7 minutes. If the white meat is cooked, remove it from the pan and keep warm. Continue cooking the leg quarters until the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced. Return the breasts to the mixture and serve with lots of the garnish.

CHICKEN BONNE FEMME (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• To make the herb bouquet: tie the parsley, bay leaf and thyme together in washed cheesecloth.
• Remove the rind and cut the bacon into strips 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long.
• In 2 quarts water, simmer the bacon for 10 minutes. Rinse in cold water and dry.
• In a fireproof casserole, saute the bacon for 2 to 3 minutes in 1 tablespoon of the butter until lightly browned. Transfer to a dish.
• Brown the chicken in the hot fat, breast side down. Brown for 2 minutes, regulating heat so the butter is always very hot but not burning.
• Turn the chicken on another side using 2 wooden spoons or a towel. Continue browning and turning the chicken until it is a nice golden color almost all over, particularly on the breast and legs. This will take 10 to 15 minutes. Add more oil, if necessary, to keep the bottom of the casserole filmed.
• Remove the chicken from the pan. Pour the fat out of the casserole. Set the oven at 325 degrees (F.).
• Drop the onions into boiling, salted water and boil slowly for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Peel the potatoes and trim them into uniform ovals about 2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain immediately.
• In the casserole, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons butter until foaming. Add the potatoes and roll them around over moderate heat for 2 minutes to evaporate their moisture; this will prevent their sticking to the casserole. Spread them in the pan.
• Salt the chicken and place it breast up in the casserole.
• Place the bacon and onions on the potatoes and add the herb bouquet.
• Baste all the ingredients with the butter in the casserole.
• Lay a piece of aluminum foil over the chicken, and cover the casserole.
• Heat the casserole on top of the stove until the contents are sizzling. Transfer to the oven and roast for 1 hour and 10 to 20 minutes or until the chicken leg registers 180 degrees (F.) on an instant-read thermometer.
• Baste once or twice with the juices in the pan.

CHICKEN BONNE FEMME

Steps:

• Rinse chicken and pat dry. Liberally season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet or pot. When hot, fry chicken skin up for about 10 minutes. Turn and fry 10 minutes on the other side. Chicken should be browned and juices should run clean when pierced with a fork. Remove chicken from skillet. Let it drain first on a wire rack and transfer onto a large platter. With oil still hot, fry potatoes until browned and crisp. Drain and place around chicken on the platter. Place garlic in a small strainer and dip into the hot oil for about 30 seconds. Remove and mix with parsley. Sprinkle garlic parsley over chicken and serve.