POULET ZAZA (CHICKEN WITH CHAMPAGNE SAUCE) - RECIPES - THE NEW YORK TIMES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Dredge the pieces in flour and shake off excess.
• Cut each carrot into 2-inch lengths. Cut each length into eighth-inch-thick slices. Stack the slices and cut them into eighthinch-thick slivers (julienne). There should be about one and a half cups. Set aside.
• Cut the green beans and celery into 2-inch lengths. Cut each length into julienne slivers. There should be about a cup of green beans and slightly less than a cup of celery. Set aside.
• Heat the butter and oil in a heavy skillet large enough to accommodate the chicken in one layer. When the fat is quite hot add the chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook about three minutes over moderately low heat. Turn and cook the second side about two minutes. Remove the pieces to a serving dish. Pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat. Add the shallots and cook briefly, stirring.
• Return the chicken pieces to the skillet and add the champagne. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Partly cover and let simmer about 15 minutes.
• Have ready a basin of ice water to add the vegetables to when they are cooked.
• Meanwhile, bring a large quantity of water to a boil. Put the carrots in a sieve and add them in the sieve into the boiling water. Let cook about two and a half minutes. Remove them in the sieve and add them to the ice water. Drain.
• Repeat with the celery, letting it cook about one and a half minutes. Chill and drain.
• Repeat with the green beans, letting them cook about two minutes. Chill and drain.
• Remove the chicken pieces to a warm serving dish. Cover closely with foil.
• Cook the sauce down over high heat until reduced to about three-quarters of a cup. Add the cream and bring to a simmer.
• Combine the egg yolks and water in a heavy saucepan. Place the pan on a heatproof pad such as a double metal Flame Tamer and heat the yolk mixture until tripled in volume and thickened like a foamy, rich custard or sabayon. Do not overcook or the yolks will scramble. The cooking without boiling should take about 10 minutes.
• Add the vegetables to the cream sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.
• YIELD 4 servings
• NOTE Ideally, the chicken should be cut as follows: Two legs, two thighs. Have the breast cut lengthwise in half. Leave the main wing bone attached to each breast half. Cut each breast half crosswise into two pieces of more or less equal size. Reserve the extraneous pieces (backbone, neck, etc.) for another use such as stock.