Best So Simple Normandy Style Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN NORMANDY

Steps:

• To a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Pat dry the chicken thighs and a pinch of salt and pepper to both sides of the thighs. Carefully place the thighs into the pot and cook each side until browned.
• Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and temporarily set aside on a plate. Add the apple wedges to the pot and sauté for a few minutes until golden and caramelized. Place the apple wedges on a separate plate.
• Turn down the heat to medium. To the pot, add the onions and brandy. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. After a few minutes, when the onion has softened, add the garlic and cook for another minute.
• Add the chicken back into the pot and pour in enough apple cider so that the chicken is mostly immersed in the cider, but not completely submerged. Raise the heat to high to bring the cider to a boil. Once it's boiling, turn down the heat to medium and cover the pot with a lid; cook for 5-7 minutes, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
• Remove the lid from the pot and stir in the cooked apples, mustard, cream, and chopped sage. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes longer, until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
• Serve each chicken thigh with a few apple wedges and some cream sauce poured over it. Enjoy immediately with French bread.

NORMANDY-STYLE CHICKEN AND LEEKS WITH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Season chicken all over with salt and pepper. Melt butter with the oil in a large enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just bubbling. Add half the chicken pieces, skin sides down; cook, turning once, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken pieces to a plate; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces; add to plate. Remove pot from heat; let cool slightly.
• Return pot to medium-low heat, and add leeks. Cook, stirring frequently, until leeks begin to soften and are pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add hard cider and thyme. Move leeks to edges of pot, and add all the chicken pieces to pot, skin sides down. Arrange leeks over chicken. Cover, and cook 15 minutes (if liquid is bubbling rapidly, reduce heat to low). Turn chicken pieces, and cook until breasts are cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken breasts to a plate, and cover to keep warm. Adjust leeks so they are submerged in liquid. Cook, uncovered, until the remaining chicken pieces are tender and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer all of the chicken to a warm serving platter. Remove leeks from pot, and arrange them around the chicken. Cover to keep warm. Return pot to medium heat. Cook, uncovered, until liquid has reduced by about half (to a scant 2/3 cup), 8 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk in the creme fraiche and parsley. Ladle pan sauce over chicken and leeks. Serve immediately.

SO SIMPLE NORMANDY-STYLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in skillet with garlic pieces. Bring heat up slowly so that garlic does not burn. Cover skillet and remove from heat allowing garlic to flavor oil.
• Clean chicken parts removing any visible fat and skin. Pat dry, season with salt and pepper.
• Remove garlic from oil and bring up the heat on skillet.
• Saute chicken in batches to just golden brown all over (further cooking takes place in oven). Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• While chicken browns, chop apples to small dice. Spread apples evenly over bottom of casserole dish.
• Remove chicken from skillet and place in one layer over apples.
• Remove skillet from heat and deglaze with cider or brandy. Correct seasonings to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over chicken.
• Cover casserole and bake for 30-35 minutes.
• I love serving this with red cabbage and small boiled potatoes. Yummy!