Coq au vin

厨具

• Heavy casserole with a lid (5–6 l)
• Wide frying pan (28 cm)
• Small saucepan
• Slotted spoon
• Long match or lighter for the cognac
• Instant-read thermometer

开始之前

1. Take the chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes ahead and pat it very dry with kitchen paper.
2. Dice the onion and carrot, crush the garlic.
3. Tie the thyme, bay leaves and a few parsley stalks into a bundle with kitchen string.
4. Peel the pearl onions and trim the mushrooms.

做法

1. 1

   Season the chicken

   1.8 千克 chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on8 克 fine salt1 小勺 black pepper

   Season the chicken pieces all over with the salt and pepper.

   做好的标志 Every piece has an even, light coating of seasoning and the skin is dry to the touch.
2. 2

   Render the lardons

   150 克 lardons1 大勺 sunflower oil

   Heat the oil in the casserole over medium heat. Add the lardons and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring, until golden. Lift them out with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat behind.

   做好的标志 The lardons are golden and crisp at the edges and the pan has a layer of clear, sizzling fat.

   开始 6 分钟 计时
3. 3

   Brown the chicken

   1.8 千克 chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on

   Raise the heat to medium-high. Brown the chicken skin side down in batches, 4–5 minutes, then turn and brown the other side for 3 minutes. Set aside with the lardons.

   做好的标志 The skin is deep golden and releases from the pan without tearing.

   小贴士 Crowding the pan steams the chicken instead of browning it. Leave space between the pieces.

   开始 10 分钟 计时
4. 4

   Soften the aromatics

   150 克 onion120 克 carrot3 瓣 garlic1 大勺 tomato paste

   Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat. Lower the heat to medium and cook the onion, carrot and garlic for 5 minutes, then stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute.

   做好的标志 The onion is soft and lightly golden and the tomato paste darkens to brick red.

   开始 5 分钟 计时
5. 5

   Cook the flour

   25 克 plain flour

   Sprinkle over the flour and stir for 2 minutes over medium heat.

   做好的标志 The flour disappears into the fat, the vegetables look coated and it smells nutty, not raw.

   开始 2 分钟 计时
6. 6

   Flame the cognac

   45 毫升 cognac or brandy

   Take the casserole off the heat, pour in the cognac and light it carefully with a long match. Let the flames die down on their own.

   做好的标志 The flames have gone out and the sharp alcohol smell has turned sweet.

   小贴士 Keep your face and sleeves away from the pot and never pour cognac straight from the bottle near a flame.
7. 7

   Add the wine

   750 毫升 red wine250 毫升 chicken stock4 枝 thyme2 片 bay leaves1.8 千克 chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on150 克 lardons

   Pour in the wine and stock, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the herb bundle, then return the chicken and lardons with their juices. Bring to the boil over high heat.

   做好的标志 The brown crust on the bottom has dissolved into the liquid and the chicken is almost covered.
8. 8

   Braise

   Lower the heat to low, cover with the lid slightly ajar and simmer gently for 50–60 minutes.

   做好的标志 Only a few small bubbles break the surface and the meat starts to pull back from the ends of the bones.

   小贴士 A hard boil makes the chicken stringy. Keep it at a lazy simmer.

   开始 1 小时 计时
9. 9

   Glaze the pearl onions

   45 克 unsalted butter250 克 pearl onions1 小勺 sugar

   Meanwhile, put the pearl onions in the small saucepan with half of the butter, the sugar and enough water to come halfway up. Cook over medium heat for 12–15 minutes, shaking the pan, until the water has evaporated and they roll in the butter.

   做好的标志 The onions are tender when pierced with a knife and coated in a shiny, golden glaze.

   开始 15 分钟 计时
10. 10

    Brown the mushrooms

    45 克 unsalted butter300 克 button mushrooms

    Melt the rest of the butter in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the mushrooms for 6–8 minutes without stirring for the first 3 minutes.

    做好的标志 The mushrooms are golden brown and the pan is dry; they squeak against the spatula.

    小贴士 Salt the mushrooms only at the end, or they release water and boil.

    开始 7 分钟 计时
11. 11

    Check the chicken

    1.8 千克 chicken pieces, bone-in and skin-on

    Test the thickest piece next to the bone with a thermometer: it must read at least 74 °C. Lift the chicken onto a warm dish and cover loosely with foil.

    做好的标志 The meat is tender when pierced and the juices run clear, with no pink near the bone.
12. 12

    Reduce the sauce

    Remove the herb bundle and skim off the fat on the surface. Boil the sauce over medium-high heat for 8–10 minutes until reduced by about a third. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

    做好的标志 The sauce is glossy, dark ruby and coats the back of a spoon; a finger drawn through it leaves a clear line.

    开始 10 分钟 计时
13. 13

    Finish and serve

    250 克 pearl onions300 克 button mushrooms10 克 flat-leaf parsley

    Return the chicken to the sauce with the onions and mushrooms and warm through over low heat for 2–3 minutes. Scatter over the parsley.

    做好的标志 Everything is glazed with sauce and gently steaming.

常见失误

变化做法