Simplified Coq Au Vin
Simplified Coq Au Vin
Looking for an elegant yet comforting dish? Look no further than this simplified coq au vin. It is bursting with rich, cozy flavours and is so decadent. What could be better than slow braised, tender chicken cooked in red wine with caramelized mushrooms, sweet carrots and celery?
I love using chicken thighs for this recipe as they have such a rich flavour and are so tender. If you prefer using chicken breasts, they will work as well but the cooking time may take slightly longer than the thighs. In terms of a red wine, a full bodied bottle will work the best in this dish. I typically go for a cabernet sauvignon. Be sure to use a good quality bottle of wine that you would drink. After all, the wine is the foundation of flavour in this dish!

The tomato paste adds a touch of richness to this dish that compliments the red wine so well. Rosemary and bay leaves add an element of earthiness and aromatics that truly take this dish to the next level.
This is a perfect recipe to make for your next dinner party. Simply prepare the coq au vin and set aside until you are ready to serve. It will take a few minutes to reheat on the stove top. I love serving this over creamy polenta or mashed potatoes with a rustic salad. Tuscan kale salad with a lemon vinaigrette would pair beautifully with this rich dinner. And of course, do not forget a crusty loaf of baguette! You need the bread to soak up all the rich gravy.

Serves: 4 - 6
Total Time: 1.5 hours
INGREDIENTS:
1 large carrot, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 rib of celery, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 medium onion, diced
10 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sprig of rosemary
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 cups of red wine
4 oz cremini mushrooms
2 tablespoons softened butter
2 tablespoons flour
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper
Heat the olive oil in a medium sized dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown. You can do this in two or three batches so that you don't crowd the pan.
Once the chicken is browned on both sides, transfer to a plate and set aside.
Add the carrots, onion and celery into the dutch oven and sauté for a couple minutes before adding in the tomato paste. Stir to combine.
Slowly add the wine, stirring constantly.
Nestle the chicken into the sauce and add in the rosemary sprig and bay leaves
Cover and bake in the oven for one hour until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the dutch oven and set aside. It will shred if you are not careful!
Remove and discard the rosemary sprig and bay leaves.
Make the roux by combining the flour and room temperature butter in a small bowl until you get a thick paste.
Add the roux into the sauce and cook on medium heat for about 2 - 4 minutes until the roux is thoroughly combined and the gravy starts to thicken.
Meanwhile, in a separate skillet, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil until golden brown.
Add the mushrooms and chicken into the sauce and garnish with fresh rosemary.
Serve over mashed potatoes or creamy polenta and enjoy!