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Chicken Fricassée

Chicken Fricassée

This delightful Chicken Fricassée is a French creamy chicken stew perfect for family meals or an elegant dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main, Main Course
Cuisine French
Servings 4 people
Calories 792 kcal

Equipment

  • large skillet or heavy based pot

Ingredients
  

Chicken

  • 4 pieces chicken drumsticks ~150g/5oz each
  • 4 pieces chicken thighs skin-on and bone-in, ~250g/8oz each
  • 1 teaspoon salt cooking / kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter 60g

Stew ingredients

  • 300 g white mushrooms halved if small, or cut in 4 to 6 if large
  • 2 medium brown onions sliced 0.6cm (½in) wide
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 leaf bay leaf fresh (sub dried)
  • 3 sprigs thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 tablespoon flour plain / all-purpose
  • ½ cup white wine preferably chardonnay
  • 3 cups chicken stock low sodium (preferably homemade!)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt cooking / kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • cup thickened/heavy cream

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Pat chicken dry with paper towels then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet or heavy based pot with a lid. Add chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Turn and cook the other side for 1 minute then remove to a plate.
  • Then brown the drumsticks, as best you can. I do 3 sides, about 2 minutes each. Then remove from skillet.
  • Add mushrooms, onion, bay leaf and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes until mushroom is lightly golden - they won't go deep golden brown.
  • Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add wine, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Stir, scraping the base of the pot to dissolve the brown residue stuck to the pan ('fond') into the sauce.
  • Return chicken back into the sauce with the skin side up.
  • Once it comes to a simmer, adjust heat so it's bubbling constantly but not rapidly - medium-low on my stove. Cover with lid and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Remove lid and let it simmer for a further 20 minutes. Chicken will be cooked - internal temperature 75°C/167°F or slightly higher.
  • Remove chicken to a plate. Add cream and stir. Once it comes up to a simmer, taste sauce and add more salt if desired.
  • Return chicken into the sauce then remove from the stove. Sprinkle with parsley and serve! Traditionally served over mashed potato or rice. Also ideal with short pasta like penne, ziti or macaroni.

Notes

For best results, use skin-on, bone-in chicken to prevent overcooking. Wine adds great flavor; non-alcoholic substitute can be used.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 792kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 43gFat: 57gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 284mgSodium: 1185mgPotassium: 1021mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1305IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Chicken Fricassée, creamy chicken stew, French recipe, quick chicken stew, rustic family meal
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