Right.
However, there might be a problem with the different kind of meat in a chicken. Legs, cooked slowly taste great - breast will dry out quite fast. So, I would pack those chicken parts into a zipper bag, add red wine (it doesn't have to be fancy Bordeaux), and let it stand, turning occasionally, while I cut the bacon, quarter mushrooms, dice carrots, and prep pearl onions. Once I am done with all that, the chicken will be ready to cook.
Next - start by browning cutted bacon in a Dutch oven till all fat has rendered, add thyme and bay leaves, add the rest of the veggies, stir till all is lightly browned. Sear the meat, take it out.
Add the wine and stock and bring to a simmer, stirring up all the browned bits. Add the legs first, and braise for about 45-60 min, which is more than enough time to give them a long-cooked texture, but do not cover them completely with the fluids - so their skin can crisp more as they braise.
Add the breasts to the pot only for the last 20 minutes or so, just long enough to cook them through while keeping them juicy.
To finish the sauce - remove the chicken from the pot, set aside. Simmer the liquid till it became slightly viscous, then add in unsalted butter. Since the regular flour can dull flavor of the sauce, I just add a little of potato starch, or gelatin to give it a gravy quality.
After your gravy is ready, place the chicken back in the pot, spooning the juices all over, let it sit few minutes (or cool it off and put the Dutch oven in the fridge - it taste so much better the next day after spending some time mingling with all those tasty braising juices, and all meats of your chicken should be tender, moist and juicy).
Serve same day or the next day after a careful reheating.
Note: You don't have to use red wine at all. There is a well-known version of this dish made with Riesling
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
