Eric Riperts Coq Au Vin Food

ERIC RIPERT'S COQ AU VIN

Steps:

• Remove giblets and neck from chicken and set aside. Rinse both chickens under cold water. Place one whole chicken, breast side down, on a cutting board. Using poultry scissors, cut along each side of the back bone, making sure to remove ribcage. Spread chicken open and cut through the center of the breast bone to separate chicken into two halves. Place each half skin side up; remove wings at the joint where they are attached to the breast. Separate leg and thigh from breast, cut to separate. Repeat process with second chicken. Transfer breasts and legs to refrigerator.
• Place backs, wings, and necks (if included) in a large saucepan; add 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat; immediately reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer for 2 hours, skimming impurities from the top as stock cooks. Strain stock through a fine mesh sieve into a large container; discard solids. Stock can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept refrigerated until ready to use.
• Remove chicken pieces from refrigerator and season with salt and pepper. Dust chicken lightly with flour. Heat canola oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Working in batches, add chicken and cook, turning, until golden brown and crisp on all sides. Remove chicken from pot and set aside.
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon oil from pot. Add bacon, if using, and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp. Add celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and mushrooms; cook stirring, until lightly caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add wine to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; let boil for 4 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons flour and tomato paste to pot with vegetable mixture. Add brandy to deglaze and return chicken to pot along with heated wine, 2 cups of the chicken stock (reserve any remaining chicken stock for another use), thyme, parsley, bay leaf. Bring liquid to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low; simmer until chicken is tender and begins to fall of the bone, about 2 hours.
• Carefully remove chicken from liquid and set aside; remove bacon and discard. Bring liquid to a boil; immediately reduce to a simmer. Let simmer until liquid is thickened and reduced by half. Return chicken to pot; season with salt and pepper. Serve with egg noodles.

COQ AU VIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Meanwhile, lay the chicken out on paper towels and pat dry. Liberally sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. When the bacon is removed, brown the chicken pieces in batches in a single layer for about 5 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Remove the chicken to the plate with the bacon and continue to brown until all the chicken is done. Set aside.
• Add the carrots, onions, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the pan and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac and put the bacon, chicken, and any juices that collected on the plate into the pot. Add the wine, chicken stock, and thyme and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just not pink. Remove from the oven and place on top of the stove.
• Mash 1 tablespoon of butter and the flour together and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. In a medium saute pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add to the stew. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.