Chicken in Riesling

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Serving size:4
Prep Time:
Total Time:
Chicken in Riesling

Though coq au vin made with red wine is perhaps the best-known incarnation of the French dish in this country, most regions of France have unique versions that take advantage of local wines. Alsace’s dry Riesling lends a gentle richness to this creamy, comforting meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (about 3 1/2 lb), backbone discarded and chicken cut French style into 8 pieces (see cooks’ note, below)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 nonemedium leeks (white and pale green parts only), finely chopped (2 cups)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped shallot
  • 4 medium carrots, halved diagonally
  • 1 cup 1 cup dry white wine (preferably Alsatian Riesling)
  • 11/2 lb small (2-inch) red potatoes
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup crème fraîche or heavy cream
  • Fresh lemon juice to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
  2. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a rounded 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a wide 3 1/2- to 5-quart heavy ovenproof pot over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken in 2 batches, turning once, about 10 minutes total per batch. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Meanwhile, wash leeks and pat dry.
  4. Pour off fat from pot, then cook leeks, shallot, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until leeks are pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken, skin sides up, with any juices from plate, carrots, and wine and boil until liquid is reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Cover pot and braise chicken in oven until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
  5. While chicken braises, peel potatoes, then generously cover with cold water in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain in a colander, then return to saucepan. Add parsley and shake to coat.
  6. Stir crème fraîche into chicken mixture and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, then add potatoes.

 

Cooks’ note: A chicken cut French style yields 2 breast halves with wings attached, halved crosswise for a total of 4 breast pieces, 2 drumsticks, and 2 thighs. If you don’t want to cut up a whole chicken, you can use 3 pounds chicken parts.

Recipe by Ruth Cousineau, Gourmet; photo by Marcus Nilsson.