Coq au Vin

There are very few dishes that I make at home that take a few hours to make.

This dish is one that takes time to make.

Not only in prep time, but in cook time.

So...get your knives ready and put on a tank top, things are going to get hot!

Coq au Vin

There are many different ways to make this dish.

I took a basic it idea of what every Coq au Vin has and then did what works for me.

Like I said, the traditional way to make this takes hours.

If I can save myself a half hour, I'm going to.

The main parts of the dish are chicken, wine, and mushrooms.

For a girl that hates mushrooms, they are a must in this dish!

Let me start with the basics of what you are going to do.

This will save you some time and energy for this dish.

Get all of the following ingredients below out and put them on the counter.

Turn your oven to 350 and let it heat up. 

Button Mushrooms
Clean with a wet paper towel

A pound of thick cut bacon.

A pound of carrots
Wash and peel

A few cloves of garlic diced

Get out two pots that will be big enough to hold the liquids that you will need.

Turn them to medium high heat.

Two cups of chicken stock or broth
Stock has more flavor, but broth will do if that is what you have

Pour the whole bottle of wine into the pot
Let this reduce by half

Once these things are going get out your dutch oven and turn to medium heat.

Dice the bacon into one inch cubes
Add to the dutch oven
Cook until crispy

During the cook time for the bacon, get your chicken seasoned with salt and pepper

Get bone in with skin.
You will get more flavor this way.

The bacon should look like this after about 10 minutes
Take out the bacon and put onto a lined plate
Set aside for later use

Once you have taken all of the bacon out of the dutch oven, pour out some of the bacon grease.

Add in the chicken a few pieces at a time.  It make take a few batches, so do not over crowd the dutch oven. Cook on both sides for about 10 minutes each.

This is where I do things a little different.  On a plate take a handful of thyme and scatter it.

When the chicken is browned put it on the plate.  For each "layer" of chicken add just a little bit more thyme.

All of the chicken browned and a final pinch of thyme on top

Once all of the chicken is out of the dutch oven pour out just a little bit of the fat and grease.

Add in the button mushrooms.

I suggest cutting the mushrooms in half before putting them into the dutch oven.

Cut in half and add to the dutch oven
Cook until brown and tender
This should only take about 7 minutes

While the mushrooms are cooking chop one onion and a few green onions.

Normally, you can use a shallot, but I prefer onion.

Rough chop the onion or shallot

Once the mushrooms start to look brown take them out and put into a bowl and set aside.

Add in the onion and green onion or the shallot and cook until translucent.

Once they are translucent, take them out and add to the mushrooms.

Turn down the dutch oven from medium high to medium low heat.

Add in a few pads of butter, two tablespoon of flour, two tablespoons of tomato paste, and the garlic.

Butter, flour, tomato paste, garlic mixture

Cook this mixture for just two minutes then whisk in the wine and broth.

Turn the heat up to medium high once again and simmer.

Add all of the bacon, mushroom and onion mixture, carrots, and the chicken into the dutch oven.

You may have to move things around in order for everything to fit.

The chicken won't all be covered so don't worry!

Put a lid on top and cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.

This is a good time to start cleaning up some.

Take a break, relax, and cool off!

Almost done....

DING!

The chicken should be done, so pull the dutch oven out and turn the stove back on to medium high heat.

Told you it was going to be hot.

Take out all of the chicken and place onto a plate.

Look how good that looks already!

Simmer the sauce for about 20 minutes until it has thickened some.

Add the chicken back in.

That is that.

You can now eat!

I serve mine with homemade mashed potatoes.

Easy to do.  A bag of small red potatoes, bring to a boil, drain, add milk and butter, blend and done!

This is what it should look like at the end!

I hope that you do try this regardless of the time that it does take.

It is worth every bite and you will have left overs for a few meals which means no cooking!

If you do try this please let me know in the comments!