Chicken Shiraz With Porcini And Whole Shallots Recipes

CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and sprinkle them generously on both sides with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, until it begins to smoke. Place the chicken breasts, skin side down, in the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes without moving, until golden brown.
• Using tongs, turn the chicken breasts skin side up, place the skillet in the oven, and roast for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, combine the white wine, lemon juice, and shallots and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until only 2 tablespoons of liquid remain in the pan. If it reduces too much, add an extra splash of white wine or water. Add the cream, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a full boil. Remove from the heat, add the diced butter, and swirl the pan until the butter is incorporated. Don't reheat or the sauce will "break"! Sprinkle with salt and serve the chicken hot with the sauce spooned over it.

CHICKEN WITH PORCINI GRAVY AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in pot with 2 cups of the stock. Simmer to soften the mushrooms and flavor the stock. When rehydrated, remove the mushrooms from the stock and chop. Reserve the stock, except for the very bottom, which may contain grit from the mushrooms.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, and then dredge in flour. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat and add the chicken to brown on both sides. Remove to a plate and add a bit more oil if necessary. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to the pan and melt. When the butter foams, add the garlic, onions, sage, thyme and some salt and pepper, and cook to soften, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour, then deglaze the pan with the wine. Add the chopped mushrooms and whisk in the flavored stock. Cook to thicken a bit and add the chicken back to the sauce.
• Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat.
• To serve, heat the remaining 1 cup stock, the milk and 1 cup water to a low boil. Whisk in the polenta, and then whisk to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, some salt and pepper and the grated cheese.
• Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with the chicken, gravy and a sprinkle of parsley.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN BREASTS WITH PORCINI MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper.
• Mix flour, salt, and black pepper together in a shallow bowl. Dredge chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the skillet. Add onions and garlic; saute until golden, about 3 minutes.
• Return chicken to the skillet. Add porcini mushrooms; cook and stir until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and white wine. Cover and continue cooking over medium-low heat, turning chicken occasionally, until no longer pink in the center and coated with sauce, about 10 minutes.

CHICKEN SHIRAZ WITH PORCINI AND WHOLE SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Bring broth and porcini mushrooms to boil in small saucepan. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature until mushrooms soften, about 25 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to cutting board and chop coarsely. Pour mushroom broth into medium bowl, leaving sediment behind. Reserve broth.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook until crisp and brown, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle all chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add chicken to pot and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to platter.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons drippings from pot. Add whole shallots to pot. Cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Add crimini mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms begin to brown, stirring frequently, about 6 minutes. Stir in chopped shallots, thyme, garlic, and reserved porcini mushrooms; cook until chopped shallots are soft, about 2 minutes. Stir flour into shallot mixture and continue stirring 1 minute. Stir in wine, reserved mushroom broth, and pancetta. Add chicken thighs and drumsticks to pot. Bring to boil. Cover pot and transfer to oven. Bake 25 minutes. Add chicken breasts to pot. Cover and bake until all chicken is cooked through, about 45 minutes longer. Using slotted spoon, transfer chicken to platter; tent with foil to keep warm.
• Boil sauce in pot until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken on platter, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.
• *Available in the produce section of many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.
• **An Italian bacon cured in salt; available in the refrigerated deli case of many supermarkets and at Italian markets.