Description
Ina Garten’s Coq au Vin is a flavorful and cozy twist on the traditional French chicken stew, made easy for weeknight dinners. With tender chicken, rich red wine sauce, and earthy vegetables, it’s a satisfying meal that brings the comforting essence of French cuisine to your table in just under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (3- to 4-pound) chickens, each cut into 8 pieces
- 8 ounces good bacon or pancetta, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
- 2 yellow onions, sliced
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)
- 1/4 cup Cognac or good brandy
- 1 (750-ml) bottle good dry red wine (Burgundy preferred)
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 pound frozen small whole onions
- 1 pound porcini or cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thickly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C).
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper. Add the chicken in batches to the Dutch oven and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the browned chicken and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the carrots, onions, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Pour in the Cognac and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Add the bacon and chicken back into the pot, along with any juices from the plate.
- Pour in the red wine, chicken stock, and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid and place in the oven. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Mash 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour together to make a paste. Stir this mixture into the stew to thicken the sauce. Add the frozen onions.
- In a separate sauté pan, melt the remaining butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add them to the stew and cook for another 10 minutes on the stove.
- Season the stew to taste, then serve hot.
Notes
- For best flavor, use a good dry red wine such as Burgundy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Feel free to substitute mushrooms with other varieties or add extra veggies like parsnips or potatoes for variation.
- For a richer sauce, you can add a splash of heavy cream at the end of cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 110mg