Chicken cooked in cider

This dish is easily worthy of an informal lunch or dinner party.  The cider is not too aggressive and, with the cream, produces a delicious sauce.

Preparation Time: 5 Mins

Cooking Time: 1 Hr

Total Time: 65 Mins

Ingredients

For 2 servings…

4                    Chicken thighs         

15 gms            Flour        

                     Pepper      

                     Salt          

                     Olive oil    

½                   Onion  - chopped finely          

15 gms            Butter       

75 ml              Cider  - dry

400 gms           Stock        

1½ tbs             Cream  - double       

1 tbs               Parsley  - chopped    

Method

Lightly flour and season the chicken thighs.  Heat some oil in a large frying pan set over a high heat and lightly brown the thighs on all sides - for about 2-3 minutes.  Take them out and leave them to drain on kitchen paper.

In a large saucepan set over a medium heat, gently cook the onion in the butter for about 3-4

minutes until soft.  Add the 15 gms flour and stir well.  Let it fry for 1 minute to cook out the flour and then gradually add the cider and chicken stock, stirring well to avoid any lumps from forming.

Bring to the boil and add the chicken.  The chicken should be just submerged; add more stock if needed.  Cover with a lid and reduce the heat.  Simmer gently for 20 minutes then remove the lid and simmer for a further 25 minutes until the chicken is tender.  If the sauce is not thick enough, remove the pieces of chicken and simmer the sauce until it’s a thick coating consistency.

Add the cream and parsley to the sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

If taken out, return the pieces of chicken, simmer for 1 minute to reheat, and serve.

Variations

Although chicken thighs are best, breast or drumsticks also work well.

The recipe can be used to cook guinea fowl or pheasant.

Wine recommendations

An be a red or a white wine - or even a cider.

Conventional

     Morgon

     Pinot Gris

Interesting

     Gamay de Loire

     Irouleguy

     Vouvray sec

Adventurous

     Cidre de Normandie