Jacques Pepins Basic Roast Chicken Recipes

JACQUES PéPIN'S CHICKEN & VEGETABLE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the bacon and oil over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat renders and the bacon is crisp, 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
• Add the chicken legs to the pot, increase the heat to medium high and season with salt. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and stir to distribute evenly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine and reduce by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the water, potatoes, pearl onions, carrots, garlic, thyme and reserved bacon. Season with more salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook for 5 more minutes. Stir in the peas and cook for another 2 minutes to heat through. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• To serve, garnish the stew with parsley and serve with crusty bread on the side.  *This article was originally published on 09/24/15 by Tasting Table editors. The restaurant, chef and/or recipe are in no way affiliated with or endorsing the featured sponsor.

JACQUES PEPIN'S BASIC ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle the chicken inside and out with the salt and pepper and fold the wings akimbo to position them closer to the body. Place the chicken on its side in an oven-safe skillet, preferably cast-iron.
• Place the chicken in the skillet in the oven and cook for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook another 20 minutes. (By cooking the chicken on its sides, the juices stay in the breast and, since only the back is exposed, the chicken does not need constant basting.) Finally, turn the chicken onto its back, baste it with the cooking juices and continue to cook 10 minutes. It should be golden in color.
• When the chicken is cooked, cut it into pieces and serve, with the drippings on the side.

JACQUES PEPIN'S CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175F.
• Cut extra skin and fat off each thigh. Cut a 1/2 " slit into meat on either side of the bone, so that chicken will cook faster and evenly.
• Season thighs with 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper.
• Place chicken into non-stick skillet, skin side down, on high heat.
• When chicken starts to sizzle, cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook for 16-18 minutes. If browning too quickly after 10 minutes, reduce heat to low.
• Transfer chicken, skin side up, to a heat proof platter and place in oven to keep warm. Pepin recommends keeping your serving plates in the oven so that they will be warm when you plate the chicken.
• Remove all but 2 tbsp of fat from the skillet. Add onions, garlic and mushrooms. Cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and white wine. If any liquid has accumulated on the platter in the oven, add that liquid to the pan.
• Cook over high heat for 1 minute, to reduce the liquid a bit.
• Divide the mushroom mixture between 4 plates. Place one piece of chicken on top and garnish with chives to serve.

QUICK-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH MUSTARD AND GARLIC, JACQUES STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Rinse chicken beneath cold running water and blot dry. Using poultry shears, cut along each side of the backbone and remove it. (Save backbone with the giblets for making stock.) Jacques suggests cutting partway through both sides of the joint between the thighs and the drumsticks and also cutting the joint between the wings and the breast.
• Mix the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Turn the chicken breast side down and slather it with half of the mixture. Place chicken in a large oven-safe skillet, skin side up and slather with the remaining mixture.
• Set the skillet over high heat and cook the chicken until it starts to brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and, according to Jacques, continue roasting another 30 minutes. Roast until brown and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, which took my bird 50 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces and serve.
• This can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated overnight.

JACQUES PÉPIN'S QUICK-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. In the meantime, place the chicken on a cutting board breast-side down and, using kitchen shears, cut along either side of the backbone to remove it. Flip the chicken over and press gently but firmly onto the breastbone until the chicken flattens. Using a sharp knife, slash partway through both sides of the joint between the thigh and the leg. Do the same for the joint between the wing and breast. 2 Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and whisk well to combine. In a large over-proof skillet, place the chicken skin-side down and pour half the sauce over it, rubbing it into the flesh. Turn the chicken over and pour the remaining sauce onto it. 3 Place the skillet over high heat for about 5 minutes, until the chicken begins to sizzle and brown. Transfer to the oven and roast for about 30 minutes until the skin is crackly and the chicken is cooked through. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before carving.

DINNER TONIGHT: JACQUES PEPIN'S CRUSTY CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND WHITE WINE RECIPE

Steps:

• Set the chicken thighs skin-side down on a cutting board. Cut a 1/2 inch thick slash on either side of the thigh bone. Season the thighs on both sides with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
• Place the chicken thighs skin-side down on non-stick skillet. Only then turn the heat to high. When the chicken starts to sizzle, turn heat to medium and move the thighs around to make sure they aren't sticking to the skillet. Cover the skillet and cook for 16 to 18 minutes. Check the chicken occasionally to keep it from sticking. If the skin is browning too much after 10 minutes, then turn the heat to low. When done, transfer the thighs to a warm oven.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the chicken fat in the skillet. Turn the heat to high and then add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Sauté, stirring often, for about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the remaining salt and pepper. Then pour in the wine. Continue to cook for one minute over high heat until the sauce reduces.
• Spoon some of the sauce onto a plate and top with one of the chicken thighs. Sprinkle on some chives and serve.