Michael Symons Chicken Fricassee Recipes

MICHAEL SYMON'S CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Brown chicken in oil in a heavy pan, in batches if necessary.
• While chicken is browning, tie the herbs and peppercorns in cheesecloth with a long piece of kitchen twine.
• Drain chicken and keep warm.
• Add butter to the pan with carrots, onions, garlic, and celery, salt and pepper. Saute until slightly soft, about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle four over vegetables and quickly stir to mix with butter, then add the wine, a little bit at a time, so sauce does not clump.
• Reduce the wine by half, then add the chicken stock. Then add the cheesecloth wrapped herbs (bouquet garnis), tying the string to the pot handle so it doesn't get lost, and add chicken to pan.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 35 minutes or so, until chicken is done and tender.
• Whisk together the egg mixture in a small bowl and temper it by adding a small amount of the hot cooking liquid at a time, whisking constantly, so eggs do not curdle.
• Remove bouquet garnis from pan and stir in egg mixture and lemon zest, checking seasoning and adjusting with more salt and pepper if needed. Cook just one or two minutes to heat that, then remove from heat.
• Saute the onions and mushrooms in butter, seasoning with salt and pepper and cooking for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the wine to the saute pan and deglaze, stirring up any browned bits, and cooking until wine is reduced by half, a few minutes or so.
• Place some of the mushroom/onion mixture into a bowl and place some chicken and sauce on top. garnishing with parsley if desired.
• Cook's note: I recommend serving this with dry white wine, fresh baguette with softened herb butter and a tossed salad with freshly made vinaigrette and shaved parmesan (easy accompaniments for a large meal, or cut the recipe down using the serving sizer on the recipe page).

MICHAEL SYMON'S CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• For the Chicken: In a large heavy bottomed pan placed over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Tie the herbs and peppercorns in cheesecloth. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and then season with salt and pepper on both sides. Working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, sear the chicken until golden brown, about 8 minutes for each batch. Remove the chicken and add the butter. Once melted, add the carrots, onions, garlic and celery. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, or until slightly softened. Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and stir to combine with the butter. Cook for a minute before adding the wine. Cook the wine down by half and then add the chicken stock. Drop in the herb bundle and add the chicken back to the pot. Cover and simmer gently for about 35 minutes, or until the meat is tender. Add the egg sauce mixture to the chicken pot and then bring the chicken back up to a simmer. This will thicken the sauce into something creamy and rich. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Remove the herb bundle and discard. For the Onions and Mushrooms: Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once the butter is melted and foamy, toss in the onions and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Let cook for about 7 to 8 minutes, or until they have achieved a golden color. Deglaze with the wine and reduce by half, about 2 to 3 minutes. For the Sauce: Whisk together the egg yolks and cream. Add some freshly grated nutmeg. Ladle slowly some liquid from the braised chicken into the egg mixture, tempering the eggs so they don't scramble. Whisk in one more large ladle full, stirring constantly. Add the egg mixture back to the pot and stir to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes at a gentle simmer. Plate a spoonful of the onion and mushrooms in the center of each individual bowl. Ladle in the chicken fricassee, top with sauce, and garnish with the parsley.

CAST-IRON CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the chicken and vegetable base: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over direct heat. Melt the butter. Add the carrots, onions and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, coating the vegetables, and continue to cook for another minute. Whisk in the chicken stock, smoothing out any flour lumps. Simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dumplings: Melt the butter with the jalapeno if using and lime juice in a sauce pot over indirect heat, then let cool.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, celery seeds, salt and lime zest in a large bowl. Mix in the cheese.
• Slowly pour the melted butter mixture into the cold cream in a small bowl and mix together using a fork. (The butter will bead up as you mix.) Pour the butter-cream mixture into the flour mixture and bring together into a soft dough. Set aside.
• Finish the chicken and vegetable base: Add the chicken, peas and parsley to the skillet with the vegetables. Move the skillet over indirect heat and scoop the biscuit mixture on top, covering the surface of the pan. Cover the grill and cook until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• (Alternatively, you can make the sauce and melt the butter mixture on a stovetop, then bake the biscuits in a 375 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.)

CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS WITH SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the meatballs: Combine the ground chicken, ricotta, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, nutmeg, garlic, egg and onion in a medium bowl until just mixed. Do not overwork. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and roll into balls.
• Heat a cast-iron pan on the hot side of the grill until nice and hot. Brush the pan with enough olive oil to liberally coat the surface, about 3 tablespoons.
• Place the meatballs in the pan and cook, flipping them, until all sides are caramelized, about 3 minutes. Move the pan to the indirect-heat side of the grill and cover the grill. Cook for 5 minutes.
• For the sauce: Add the garlic, oregano and onion to the pan with the meatballs and saute until the onions begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the meatballs, then add the tomato puree and 1/2 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the grill and continue to cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• For topping and serving: Top the meatballs with the mozzarella, cover the grill and cook until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Discard the oregano sprig. Spoon the meatballs on top of the Soft Polenta. Spoon any remaining sauce over top and serve topped with the Parmesan and basil if using.
• (Alternatively, you can cook the meatballs and the sauce as directed in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, then transfer the skillet to a 400 degrees F oven for 10 to 15 minutes before melting the cheese.)
• Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and the olive oil to a medium saucepot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream, until it is all incorporated and smooth. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook at a simmer until the polenta is creamy and fully hydrated, 30 to 40 minutes. Take the saucepot off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the polenta to a large serving bowl.