French Chicken Casserole recipe

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner while chicken thighs are more affordable.

white wine

🥗Healthier: non-alcoholic white wine

💰Cheaper: chicken broth

Non-alcoholic options can reduce calories, while broth adds flavor.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often less expensive.

potatoes

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: frozen mixed vegetables

Sweet potatoes are nutrient-rich, while frozen veggies are budget-friendly.

Cut the chicken into manageable size pieces and trim off some of the skin.

In a pot, add 2 liters of water and the carcass of the chicken along with chopped carrot, onion, celery, a bay leaf, and parsley stalks. Simmer to make stock.

Take 2 sticks of celery, remove the stringy outer edge, and roughly slice them up.

Roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic and mash them with a touch of salt to create a paste.

Cut 4 shallots into quarters and set aside.

Cut 4 rashes of bacon into manageable size pieces and set aside.

Peel 2 apples, core them, and cut them into wedges. Place them in water with a touch of lemon juice to prevent browning.

Gather all ingredients: chicken, shallots, celery, lemon thyme, minced garlic, salt, bacon, whiskey, flour, apples, and double cream.

Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and fry the chicken until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan.

Remove excess fat from the pan, then add shallots, celery, and bacon. Cook for a couple of minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of Irish whiskey to deglaze the pan and cook out the alcohol.

Toss in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook on medium-high heat to remove the rawness of the flour.

Add a third of a cup of chicken stock and stir to combine, adding more stock if necessary.

Add the quartered apples and the chicken with all its juices back into the casserole dish.

Fold in 5 sprigs of lemon thyme and cover the dish with a lid.

Place the casserole in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, add a couple of cups of thickened cream to the casserole and stir.

Return the casserole to the oven uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Prepare mashed potatoes by mashing with a little salt, pepper, cream, and nutmeg, finishing with an egg yolk.

Sprinkle parsley over the finished casserole before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens