Which white wine to choose for braising?

For this recipe (or for any wine braised chicken recipe really), I almost always recommend using a white wine that is dry and crisp. A “dry” white is any white wine that isn’t sweet. And a “crisp” white is a wine that has a high acidity.   

Some of my recommendations are:

• Sauvignon Blanc– this is my go-to white wine for cooking. It provides a great acidity.
• Pinot Grigio– a neutral white wine, which makes it easy to cook with and is very versatile.
• Unoaked Chardonnay– this one is slightly richer than the two above.
• Dry Marsala– it adds lovely nutty notes and creates a great caramelization.
• Dry Sparkling Wine– it is a light and crisp option. Note that the bubbles dissipate when cooking, so you won’t notice this was a sparkling wine. 

In any case, avoid opting for sweet white wines (ie. Riesling, Sauternes) which will create over-caramelization and/or sweetness to the finish dish. This recipe already relies on peaches to provide a delightful natural sweetness. Also, avoid full-bodied, rich and/or oaky white wines (ie. Oaked Chardonnay) which tend to develop bitter undernotes when cooking.

Lastly, you shouldn’t necessarily reach for a “cheap” bottle, but one that is still drinkable – trust me, it will really make a difference. Forget the “cooking wines” from the grocery store! 

Can you substitute the chicken thighs?

Skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs are my pieces of choice for this type of wine-braised recipes. They are so flavorful and turn fork-tender. However, yes, you can replace chicken thighs for skin-on legs or quarters if you would like. Avoid using chicken breasts as they will likely become too tough after 30 minutes of baking in the oven.

Whether you choose chicken thighs, legs or quarters, leaving the skin on the chicken is essential to this recipe. The chicken will be first cooked, skin-side down, in the pan. The fat from the skin will melt and render into the pan, and be used later to caramelize the shallots and garlic, and as a base for the sauce. It will contribute greatly to building flavors in this dish. You can choose to remove the skin later – in your plate, once the dish is served.

Cooking tips:

• I recommend you salt your chicken beforehand (2 to 3 hours before), to allow the salt to penetrate the meat. 
• Choosing in-season peaches is best. However, do not opt for peaches that are too ripe or soft, or they will turn mushy once baked. You will want to choose peaches that are still firm, so they turn soft yet keep in once piece once baked.
• Use a pot/pan/skillet that can go from the stove-top to the oven.

I hope you’ll love this Wine-braised Chicken with Peaches as much as I do! This is a simple yet impressive recipe that is perfect for Summer. You can serve it with rice and a salad on the side. 

You may also like: 

• Chicken Provençal with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
• Creamy French Chicken Tarragon (Poulet à l’Estragon)
• Clementine Roast Chicken with Fennel and Honey
• Simple Chicken Marengo with Mushrooms
• Braised Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Onion
• Chicken Fricassée with Shallots and Bacon

Wine-Braised Chicken with Peaches

Print Recipe

Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 50 Minutes 50 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.8/5

( 6 voted )

Ingredients

4 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
¼ cup (34g) flour
2 tbsp (28.5g) unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 shallots, peeled and diced
1/3 cup (79ml) dry white wine
2 peaches, stoned and cut in wedges
2 tbsp (40ml) honey
2 tbsp almond slices
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves

Instructions

Step 1 - 2 to 3 hours prior to cooking, rinse the chicken thighs under cold water and pat-dry thoroughly with paper towel. Season each piece with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the flour in a shallow plate and roll each chicken thigh in flour to cover evenly. Set aside and let rest to near room temperature.

Pre-heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle.

Step 2 - Heat up a large oven-safe frying pan (or skillet) over medium-high heat and add the butter to the pan. When the butter sizzles, place the chicken thighs, skin-side down, in the pan. Cook for about 8-10 minutes (uncovered) until the chicken skin is golden to golden brown. Flip the chicken thighs and cook for 6-7 more minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil. Keep the chicken drippings in the pan. 

Step 4 - Lower the heat to medium and add the shallots and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are tender and lightly caramelized.

Step 5 - Nestle the chicken thighs back into the pan. Pour the white wine into the pan (around the chicken pieces, not on top so the chicken skin remains crispy) and transfer the pan into the oven for 15 minutes (uncovered).

In a small bowl, toss the peach slices with the honey.

Step 6 – Take the chicken out of the oven, and scatter the peach slices around the chicken pieces. Transfer the chicken back into the oven for 15 more minutes (uncovered).

Remove from the oven and sprinkle the dish with almond slices and chopped basil leaves. Serve immediately.

The post Wine-Braised Chicken with Peaches appeared first on Pardon Your French.

This is a simple one-pan dish that is incredibly flavorful and perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.  Be sure to have crusty bread on-hand for sopping up the beautiful sauce, and a bottle of Provençal rosé for sipping along to – bien sûr!

What is “Chicken Provençal”?

Not a specific recipe, “Provençal” refers to the style of cooking that hails from the sun-kissed region of Provence, in Southern France. The Provençal style is often used for preparing chicken or fish, and consists of using the staple ingredients found in the region: extra-virgin olive oil and olives from the local orchards, garlic (lots of it!), tomatoes that grow abundantly, and of course, Herbes de Provence (see paragraph below).

The chicken gets dusted with flour, browned in a pan, and then braised slowly in a pool of wine, nestled with the other ingredients. It makes for a deliciously moist chicken with a crisp brown skin, melty garlic and an incredibly flavorful sauce for mopping up with fresh crusty bread.

There likely exists as many variants of “Provençal” recipes as there are families in Provence. The main ingredients are always there (EVOO, olives, garlic, tomatoes, herbs and wine) but other ingredients can be added for extra flavor: bell peppers, lemon quarters, artichoke hearts, anchovies, capers, etc.

For this version of Chicken Provençal, I opted for the use of meaty green olives, cherry tomatoes for bursts of sweetness, shallots for their lovely caramelized notes, and tender artichoke hearts which marry great with chicken.

About Herbes de Provence

Herbes de Provence are a key “ingredient” to give Chicken Provençal its signature flavor. This is a typical mix of dried herbs from Provence and usually includes: savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano and sometimes lavender too (although I wouldn’t recommend the use of lavender for this chicken recipe).

Herbes de Provence mix can be found online, in specialty stores or bulk stores (ie. Bulkbarn in Canada); but if you can’t find it you can easily make your own mix at home. Use an equal amount of each dried herb and mix. Keep it in a sealed jar or in a tied up pouch, for months.

If you can’t find Herbes de Provence, you can simply use thyme and/or rosemary – which are two very accessible herbs. 

Which wine to choose?

A Chicken Provençal is just as delicious made with either white or red wine – but not rosé! Keep that one for sipping on the side. For the recipe pictured here, I used a cup of red wine which creates deeper, heart-warming flavors. Use white wine if you want lighter flavors and lovely fruity notes.

In both cases, white or red, choose a “crisp” wine (meaning, with high-acidity), which is always the best choice for cooking.

• For whites, great choices are: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and unoaked Chardonnay
• For reds, great choices are: Merlot, Pinot Noir or a light Cabernet are best.
• Some recipes call for Vermouth, which creates a deeper-tasting sauce with lovely botanical notes. 
• And if you want to keep things one-themed, a Provençal Trebbiano white is perfect. 

Cooking tips:

• I recommend you take the chicken pieces out of the fridge at least 1 hour before you cook them, to allow them to get close to room temperature. Pat the chicken dry very thoroughly, which will make for an extra-crisp skin when cooking.
• It is important to opt for bone-in pieces of chicken, as the bones will lend so much more flavor to the sauce and whole dish.
• You can remove the skin of the chicken if you want a healthier version of this dish– although I think the skin lends a great amount of flavour to the sauce.
• I like to use Spanish Queen Olives, as they are large, plump and tasty. I prefer using olives with pits as they are more flavorful and will also impart more flavor to the sauce. But for convenience, you can opt for pitted olives.
• Shallots can be substituted for pearl onions.

I hope you’ll love this Chicken Provençal with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes recipe as much as I do!

You may also like:

• Cod Provençal with Tomatoes, Capers & Olives
• Coq Au Vin Blanc 
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts in Grape Sauce 
• Simple Chicken Marengo with Mushrooms
• Braised Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Onion

Chicken Provençal with Green Olives and Cherry Tomatoes

Print Recipe

Serves: 4 people Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 hour 1 hour

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.5/5

( 13 voted )

Ingredients

4 skin-on chicken leg quarters (or 8 Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup (42g) flour
3 tbsp (45ml) Extra Virgin Olive oil
2 tbsp Herbes de Provence  
8-10 cloves garlic, peeled
6 medium-size shallots, peeled and halved
2 pints/4 cups (600g) of cherry tomatoes
4 artichoke hearts, quartered (canned, drained)
1 cup Green olives (with pits or pitted)
1 cup (250ml) dry wine (red, white) or Vermouth
3-4 sprigs Fresh thyme

Instructions

Make sure you read the cooking notes before you start.

Step 1 – Rinse the chicken pieces thoroughly and pat them dry all over with paper towel to remove any excess moisture; this will help ensure the skins gets a nice crispy skin when cooking. I like to allow the chicken to come close to room temperature before cooking.

Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the 1/3 cup of flour (42g) in a shallow plate and roll each chicken quarter/thigh in flour to cover evenly.

Pre-heat your oven to 400° F (205° C), with a rack in the middle. 

Step 2 – Heat the EVOO in a large oven proof pan, and place in the chicken skin side down. Cook the chicken without disturbing it for 6-7 minutes until golden brown. Flip chicken over and cook again for 6-7 minutes.

Step 3 – Sprinkle the chicken pieces with Herbes de Provence. Arrange the garlic cloves, shallots, cherry tomatoes, green olives and artichoke around the chicken, then add the wine to the pan. Arrange a few sprigs of thyme on top of the chicken. Cover with a lid and place in the oven.

Cook for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, baste the chicken with the pan juices and cook for 20-25 more minutes (lid off) until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and browned.

Serve over rice, potatoes, or cannellini beans - with crusty bread for dipping.

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a comment below, rate the recipe and/or share a photo on Instagram: tag @pardonyourfrench  and hashtag it #pardonyourfrench.  Bon Appetit! 

The post Chicken Provençal with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes appeared first on Pardon Your French.

This One-Pan Garlic Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Carrots recipe is quick to assemble and -bonus! – a snap to clean too.  Lamb, a fair amount of garlic (of course), potatoes, carrots and herbs all meet in one pan to make this nifty feast. The only prep that is required is to poke the lamb chops with garlic slivers and let them rest for two hours in a quick marinade – two little steps that impart big flavor!

During the 1 hour cooking time (where you can tend to other matters in the meantime), the lamb chops turn out garlicky, juicy and surrounded by golden edges. The potatoes get perfectly crisp and finish their sizzling in the lamb juice. The carrots get utterly tender and burst with flavor.

One-pan, easy clean-up and big flavors. Do I need anything else to convince you?

Cooking notes:

• This is an easily resizeable recipe. You can prepare only two lamb chops (for a perfect dinner for two) or double – or even triple – the number of lamb chops to feed a large crowd (as long as it all fits onto one pan). The amount of potatoes and carrots can vary accordingly. The cooking time always remains the same.
• For the potatoes, I used Red, Yellow and Blue Creamer Potatoes.
• Aside from carrots, you can add (or substitute with) sweet potatoes, rutabagas, parsnips, turnips or beets.

One-pan Garlic Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Carrots

Print Recipe

Serves: 4 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 hour 1 hour

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.3/5

( 27 voted )

Ingredients

4 shoulder lamb chops
1 garlic head
4 sprigs rosemary
3-4 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1.5 lb (680g) baby potatoes (ie. creamer), halved
1 tsp salt, divided
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper, divided
4 tbsp (60ml) Extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

2 hours before you start cooking, slice the garlic head in half crosswise. Reserve one half. Separate and peel the other half and finely chop those garlic cloves. Stem and chop 2 sprigs of rosemary (keep the other 2 whole sprigs aside). Place the lamb chops on a cutting board, pat them dry with paper towel and slice small cuts into them (4-5 cuts/chops). Insert a thin slice of garlic into each cut. Place the chops in a shallow dish, with 2 tbsp of olive oil, half the amount of the chopped garlic, half the amount of the chopped rosemary, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper. Rub the marinade all over to make sure the lamb is evenly coated. Cover with remaining 2 sprigs of rosemary. Cover with plastic film and set aside to marinate for 2 hours (at room temperature).

Pre-heat your oven to 450F (232C), with a rack in the middle.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the baby potatoes and carrots with 2 tbsp of olive oil, the rest of the chopped garlic, the rest of the chopped rosemary, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper. Toss to coat evenly and transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet. Add the whole half of the garlic head (cut side down). Roast until tender for about 30 minutes (tossing the potatoes and carrots half-way (at the 15 minute mark) with a spatula, so they don’t get stuck to the bottom of the pan.
Nestle the lamb chops in the pan and cook for 30 more minutes (or 35 to 40min if you like your lamb a little more well done).

When ready, take the pan out of the oven and carefully unpeel the halved garlic head from the pan with a spatula and squeeze out the cloves. Serve each lamb chop with potatoes, carrots and a few roasted garlic cloves on top.

If you try this One-pan Garlic Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Carrots recipe let me know!  Leave a comment or share a photo using #pardonyourfrench on Instagram. Bon Appétit!

The post One-Pan Garlic Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Carrots appeared first on Pardon Your French.