Best Chicken In Riesling With Prunes And Cabbage Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

CHICKEN IN RIESLING WITH PRUNES AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cipolline, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables are lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer to heavy large pot; push vegetables to sides.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and brown on all sides, turning often with wooden spoons, about 10 minutes. Place chicken, breast side up, in center of vegetable mixture in pot. Arrange fresh herbs, lemon peel, and prunes around chicken. Tuck cabbage wedges around chicken.
• Pour off fat from skillet. Add broth and wine to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits; pour over and around chicken. Drizzle remaining 1/2 cup oil over. Cover pot with large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, sealing tightly around rim. Place lid on pot to cover tightly. Roast chicken and vegetables until cooked through, about 55 minutes. Let stand covered 10 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to center of large shallow bowl. Using tongs, place vegetables and aromatics around chicken. Season pan juices to taste with salt and pepper; pour over chicken.

CHICKEN WITH RIESLING

Steps:

• Put the butter in a skillet large enough to hold the chicken and turn the heat to medium. Add the onions, a large pinch of salt, and some pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften completely and begin to melt into a soft mass, about 20 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the wine and let it bubble away for a minute, then tuck the chicken pieces among the onions; sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Turn the heat to low and cover the pan.
• Cook, turning the chicken pieces once or twice, for 40 to 60 minutes, or until the chicken is very tender (the meat on the drumsticks will begin to loosen from the bone). If the dish appears to be drying out at any point, add the remaining wine.
• Serve the chicken, spooning the onions and their liquid over it.
• Variations
• Cook the onions for 10 minutes or so longer before adding the wine, until they darken in color and become even softer.
• While the onions are cooking, brown the chicken by putting it, skin side up, in a 500°F oven for about 20 minutes. When you add the chicken to the onions, include some of its juice.
• Tuck a couple of bay leaves and/or a few sprigs of fresh thyme in among the onions after they've begun to soften.
• Sauté about 1/4 pound of bacon or salt pork cut into 1/2-inch chunks in the pan before adding the onions.
• Cook about 1/2 pound of sliced mushrooms (or an ounce or two of dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted) along with the onions.
• Cook 1 tablespoon or more of chopped garlic with the onions.
• After cooking, puree the onions and their liquid in a blender for a cream like sauce; use it to top the chicken.

CHICKEN RIESLING

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper and cook until somewhat golden browned, about 4 minutes per side. Add shallot and continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Add Cognac and carefully ignite it with a long match. When the flames subside, add Riesling, cover and simmer on low until the chicken breasts are just cooked, about 25 minutes. Remove breasts to plate and cover with foil. Cover and simmer the legs until cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer to the plate.
• Meanwhile, in another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook over low heat until the liquid dissipates, about 7 minutes. Increase heat and continue cooking and stirring, until browned, about 3 minutes.
• In a bowl, blend flour and remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir cream into the large skillet; bring to a simmer. Gradually whisk the flour paste into the cooking liquid and simmer, whisking, until no floury taste remains, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Return the chicken to the skillet, add the mushrooms and briefly reheat.