A French-inspired freezer dish, Coq-au-Vin has rustic, peasant roots and an upscale cachet. Serve this one-pot meal for family meals or casual entertaining.
A French-inspired freezer dish, Coq-au-Vin has rustic, peasant roots and an upscale cachet. Serve this one-pot meal for family meals or casual entertaining.
| 4 | Pound | chicken, cut in serving pieces |
| 3 | Tablespoon | butter |
| 1 | Tablespoon | olive oil |
| 4 | Ounce | bacon, diced |
| 12 | boiling onions, small, peeled | |
| 3 | Ounce | whole mushrooms, small |
| 2 | celery stalks, finely chopped | |
| 1 | garlic clove, peeled and crushed | |
| 2 1⁄2 | Tablespoon | flour |
| 2 | Cup | red wine, dry |
| 1 | Cup | beef broth |
| 1 | bay leaf | |
| salt, to taste | ||
| pepper, to taste |
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan with the salad oil and fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper toweling.
Brown the chicken pieces in the fat, turning once. Put chicken pieces and bacon in a 2-quart baking dish.
Fry onions and celery in the fat remaining in the pan until soft, then add to the baking dish. Melt remaining tablespoon butter in the pan, add mushrooms and saute for 2 minutes; remove and drain on paper towels.
Blend garlic and flour in fat remaining in pan, and cook gently until browned. Add wine, broth, and herbs, and season to taste. Simmer gently until mixture thickens slightly. Pour over chicken in the casserole.
Cover baking dish and bake for 2 hours in a 350-degree oven. Stir mushrooms into casserole; cool.
To freeze: cover cooled casserole with aluminum foil (you may divide into 2 entrees for small families!); wrap dish in freezer bag.
To prepare: thaw overnight in refrigerator, or 4 to 5 hours at room temperature. Place covered casserole in 350-degree oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until bubbling and hot.
Au votre sante!