Braised Chicken With Red Potatoes And Tarragon Broth Recipes

MUSTARD-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the middle position. In a small bowl, stir together both mustards and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper; set aside. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chicken skin side down and cook without disturbing until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Using tongs, transfer the chicken skin up to a plate, then spread ¼ cup of the mustard mixture evenly onto the skin sides. Pour off and discard all but 2 tablespoons of fat in the skillet and return the pan to medium. Add the shallots, garlic and flour, then cook, stirring often, until the mixture is light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil over medium-high, scraping up any browned bits. Return the chicken pieces skin side up to the skillet and pour in the accumulated juices. Place the pan in the oven and cook until the thickest part of the thigh reaches about 175°F, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken skin side up to a platter. Set the skillet over medium-high (the handle will be hot) and bring the cooking liquid to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is slightly thickened and a spoon drawn through the sauce leaves a trail, 5 to 8 minutes. Off heat, stir in the remaining mustard mixture, the yogurt and tarragon. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then spoon the sauce around the chicken.

CAL PETERNELL'S BRAISED CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Season chicken legs with salt and pepper and let them sit for a while, 15 minutes to an hour, or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a cup or two of flour in a large bowl, add half the chicken and tumble the legs around to coat.
• Set a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in 2 tablespoons oil or butter and allow to melt and foam. Shake excess flour off the chicken legs and slide them into the hot pan in one layer; adjust the heat so the legs are sizzling nicely. When the legs begin to brown, after about 5 minutes, turn them over to brown the other side, an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a platter and repeat with remaining legs, adding more oil or butter if the pan seems dry.
• Pour off the grease in the pan and add the wine or other liquid to the skillet, scraping at the sticky bits. Let simmer over medium heat until pan is completely deglazed. Pour that liquid into a small bowl and set aside.
• Add remaining oil or butter to the pan and allow it to heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened nicely, approximately 10 minutes. Add garlic, thyme and bay leaf and cook for a minute or so, then return all the chicken to the pan, skin side up, along with the reserved glazing liquid and between 1 and 3 cups stock or water, enough to come up the sides of the chicken but not to get them swimming. Bring to a simmer and then put the skillet in the oven.
• After 5 minutes or so, reduce the oven heat to 325 degrees and cook until chicken is very tender, 30 to 40 minutes. (Test for doneness by inserting a slender-bladed knife into the meat. It should pull out easily.) Remove the skillet from the oven, lift the legs from the skillet and put them aside again. Pour the liquid contents of the skillet into a small bowl and allow it to sit for 5 minutes or so, letting the fat rise to the surface. Use a small ladle to skim off and discard the fat, then return liquid to the pan, along with the chicken. Bring back to a simmer on the stovetop, then return to the oven for 5 minutes or so before serving, sprinkled with the chopped parsley, or save to reheat later.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH POTATOES, OLIVES, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken with salt. Heat a large, heavy ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Swirl in oil. Cook chicken, skin side down, until browned, about 5 minutes. Flip chicken, and push to side of skillet. Add 1 cup stock and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add potatoes to liquid. Bring to a boil. Add garlic, olives, lemon wedges, and thyme to liquid. Return to a boil.
• Transfer skillet to oven. Roast, stirring potatoes halfway through, until potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Return skillet to stove. Mix cornstarch with remaining 1/4 cup stock, and stir into pan. Bring to a boil to thicken sauce. Serve immediately.