Chicken With Vin Jaune And Morels Recipes

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS AND VIN JAUNE

Steps:

• Prepare the morels: Place the morels in a colander and rinse well under cold running water to rid them of any grit. Transfer them to a heatproof measuring cup. Pour boiling water over the mushrooms to cover. Set aside for 20 minutes to plump them up. Then, using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the mushrooms from the liquid, leaving behind any grit that may have fallen to the bottom. If any of the morels are extremely large, halve them lengthwise.
• Liberally season the chicken pieces on all sides with sea salt and white pepper.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet, combine the oil and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Place over moderate heat. When the fats are hot but not smoking, add the chicken, skin side down, and brown until it turns an even golden color, about 5 minutes more. Carefully regulate the heat to avoid scorching the skin. (This may have to be done in batches.) When all the pieces are browned, use tongs (to avoid piercing the meat) to transfer them to a platter. Season again with sea salt and white pepper.
• Pour off and discard the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the shallots, and the garlic. Cook, covered, over low heat, until soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and boil, uncovered, over high heat for 5 minutes to burn off the alcohol, which could make the sauce bitter. Add the cream and the morels, and stir to blend. Return the chicken and any juices that have accumulated to the skillet. Cover, and cook over low heat, turning the pieces in the sauce once or twice, until the chicken is cooked through and has thoroughly absorbed the sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve.

CHICKEN WITH VIN JAUNE AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Place the morels in a small bowl, add hot water to cover, and set aside to soak. Meanwhile, season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In heavy flameproof casserole over medium heat, heat the olive oil and 5 tablespoons of the butter.
• Add the chicken and onion, and sauté, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides, about 15 minutes. Add 1 cup vin jaune, or 1/2 cup white wine and 1/2 cup sherry, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat for 45 minutes; 15 minutes before the chicken is ready, prepare the mushrooms.
• Drain the morels, reserving and straining the soaking liquid. Place a large skillet over low heat and add 5 tablespoons of the butter. When it has melted, add the morels and sauté for 10 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and continue to sauté until lightly browned, another 5 minutes. Pour mushrooms and any liquid into the chicken mixture, add crème fraîche, and stir.
• Knead the remaining 4 tablespoons butter with the flour until smooth. Add to the chicken with the morel soaking liquid and the remaining vin jaune or white wine and sherry. Stir over low heat until the sauce is thickened and smooth; do not allow to boil. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

CHICKEN WITH VIN JAUNE AND MORELS

Steps:

• Soak morels in boiling-hot water for 2 hours.
• Squeeze liquid from morels into remaining soaking liquid (set morels aside), then strain soaking liquid through a paper-towel-lined sieve into a bowl and reserve 1/2 cup.
• Cook shallot and garlic in butter with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add cream and reserved soaking liquid and boil until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat chicken dry and sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken in 2 batches, skin sides down first and turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate as browned.
• Return chicken to skillet, skin sides up, with any juices from plate and add morels, reduced cream mixture, and 3/4 cup vin jaune. Cook at a bare simmer, covered, over low heat until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and morels to a serving dish and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Boil sauce until slightly thickened and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes.
• Pour sauce over chicken and morels and sprinkle with a little more vin jaune.