Chicken With Creamy Braised Leeks Recipes

BRAISED CHICKEN BREASTS ON CREAMY LEEKS

Steps:

• Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
• Add wine to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes. Add leeks and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, then simmer over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth. Top leeks with chicken breasts and juices from plate, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until leeks are tender and chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes .
• Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add cream to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve chicken on top of leeks.

ONE PAN CREAMY CHICKEN WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F.
• Pat the chicken dry with paper towels then season generously with salt.
• Place the chicken, skin-side down, in a large, deep pan or braised.
• Place the pan over medium-high heat and allow the chicken to brown, rendering its fat, for 8-10 minutes. Flip over and cook for another 5 minutes then remove from the pan.
• In the same pan, add the bacon and cook for a few minutes until it's starting to crisp.
• Add the leeks and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the leeks are starting to soften.
• Add the garlic, thyme and mustard and cook for a minute.
• Pour in the white wine and lemon juice and allow to reduce for a few minutes.
• Pour in the cream and chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken back to the sauce then place in a preheated oven and allow to bake for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced slightly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, pepper and lemon.
• Serve the chicken and sauce over rice or mashed potatoes.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND MELTED LEEKS

Steps:

• If you see or feel dirt in the leeks, rinse well, separating layers, then pat dry; otherwise, leave rounds intact.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high until hot but not smoking. Add leeks in a single layer; season with 1/4 tsp. salt and a pinch of pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook, turning once, until leeks are lightly golden, 16-18 minutes. Transfer leeks to a plate; reserve skillet.
• Lightly crush fennel seeds with the bottom of a heavy skillet or pot. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with fennel, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a 5-7-qt. Dutch oven or large wide saucepan over medium-high. Cook thighs, skin side down, until well-browned, 12-14 minutes. Transfer skin side up to a plate. Pour off and discard fat.
• Add wine to pot, bring to a simmer, and cook, scraping up bits from bottom of pot, 1 minute. Add broth and return chicken skin side up to pot. Lower heat to medium-low, cover pot, and cook until chicken is cooked through, 15-18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine asparagus, peas, and 2 Tbsp. water in reserved skillet, cover, and cook over medium heat until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 tsp. lemon zest, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, and a pinch of pepper; stir gently to just combine.
• Divide chicken, asparagus mixture, and reserved leeks among large shallow bowls. Bring broth to a simmer, add lemon juice, then ladle into bowls. Top with dill and remaining 1 Tbsp. lemon zest.

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY-DREAMY BRAISED LEEKS

Steps:

• Trim the roots and dark green tops from leeks, leaving 5 to 6 inches of white and light green. Cut leeks in half lengthwise and rinse well. Place leeks in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish, nesting them together. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the garlic and thyme into the broth between the leeks.
• Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 40 minutes. After about 30 minutes, sprinkle the chicken with 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the heat.
• Remove the leeks from the oven after 40 minutes and nestle the chicken into them. Add cream and the remaining 1/4 tsp. salt to the hot skillet (do NOT turn burner back on). Stir any browned bits and let the cream heat from the warmth of the pan. Pour cream mixture over the leeks and chicken.
• Return the baking dish to the oven and bake until chicken is tender, about 20-25 minutes. Serve the chicken with the braised leeks, spooning the sauce over both.

WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Finely grate, pass through a press or mince 2 garlic cloves. Set aside half the grated garlic for finishing the dish. Rub the rest all over the chicken pieces. Set aside the chicken while preparing the other ingredients.
• In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter melts, add chicken in batches and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If the pan dries out, add a little more oil as needed. Transfer browned chicken to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon each oil and butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add mushrooms and cook undisturbed until well browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir and cook for 1 minute longer.
• Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in sliced garlic, leeks and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender and golden brown, 7 minutes. Add rosemary and wine to the pot and let simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until liquid reduces by half, about 1 minute.
• Nestle chicken, skin side up, into the pan and pour in any accumulated juices from the plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Pluck the rosemary sprigs from the pot. If the sauce looks thin, turn the heat to medium-high and let simmer until it thickens slightly, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining grated garlic, the crème fraîche, chives and lemon zest. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed. Spoon sauce over the chicken and top with parsley, more lemon zest and a dollop of crème fraîche, if you like, and serve.