Description
A classic French dish featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a creamy cider sauce, enhanced with caramelized apples and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a cozy family dinner!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8–10 chicken pieces (thighs & legs, bone-in & skin on)
- Splash of olive oil
- 2 onions or 4 medium shallots, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 200g streaky bacon, chopped (or chopped bacon lardons)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 30ml brandy (optional)
- 300ml dry cider
- 200ml chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 sprigs thyme leaves, stripped from stalk
- ½ cup (125ml) crème fraîche or thick/double cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 apples (such as Pink Lady), cored and cut into 8 wedges (skin on)
- Chopped parsley to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Brown Chicken: Heat a large, lidded casserole dish or non-stick frying pan with olive oil. Season chicken with salt and white pepper, and brown skin-side down until golden on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables and Bacon: In the same pan, add bacon and cook until fat starts to render. Add onions and celery, and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and cook briefly.
- Make the Sauce: Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook for a minute. Add brandy (if using) and stir. Then add cider and bring to a rapid bubble. Add stock, thyme, and bay leaves, and cook until reduced by about a third.
- Simmer Chicken: Return chicken to the pan with any juices, cover, and roast in the oven for 35 minutes.
- Finish the Sauce: Remove dish from oven and take off lid. Spoon out chicken and set aside. Stir crème fraîche through the sauce and bring to a bubble. Place chicken pieces back in the sauce with skin side up.
- Caramelize Apples: Return casserole to oven with lid off for a further 10 minutes. While the chicken is finishing, heat a non-stick pan with butter. Gently fry apple slices until golden on each side.
- Serve: Serve the casserole with caramelized apple slices scattered on top and chopped parsley (optional). Pair with crusty bread, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use homemade chicken stock.
- The brandy is optional, but it adds depth to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: french
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 200g of chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg