BRAISED CHICKEN WITH GRAPES, CREAM AND VERJUS

Braised Chicken With Grapes, Cream and Verjus image

I love using Navarro Vineyards verjus from the Navarro Winery here in California. The taste is just exquisite and perfect in my opinion....not sharp, not sweet, not acidic.....different than regular wine or other citrus. This recipe highlights the versatility of using verjus in a classic style braised chicken.

Provided by Rinshinomori

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

3 1/2 lbs whole chickens, cut into 8 pieces (rinsed and patted dry)
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, divided
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup onion, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, smashed
1 cup verjus
1 cup grapes, roughly chopped (seedless green or red)
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or 2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, chopped for garnish

Steps:

Season the chicken pieces evenly on all sides with the salt and pepper.
In a large Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, onions and garlic cloves and cook until the chicken is well browned, turning once, about 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Add the verjus and stir to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
Add the grapes and olives, cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium.
Cook until the chicken is tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces to a warmed platter and cover to keep warm.
Add the chicken stock to the pot and bring to a boil, scraping any browned bits that cling to the sides or bottom of the pan and cook until the sauce is reduced by 1/2 in volume, about 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining butter, a piece at a time, whisking constantly until all the butter has been added and the sauce is smooth and thick. Do not allow the sauce to boil and remove from the heat as necessary to prevent from breaking.
Add the creme fraiche and whisk to combine. Adjust the seasoning, to taste.
Ladle the sauce over the chicken and garnish with the parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 909.3, Fat 71.4, SaturatedFat 28.8, Cholesterol 262.1, Sodium 1518.7, Carbohydrate 17.6, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 9.9, Protein 48.4