Description
Succulent chicken Normandy showcases French culinary elegance with tender chicken braised in rich apple brandy and cream sauce. Normandy’s classic ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a sophisticated dish that delights sophisticated palates and connects you to regional French traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 chicken legs (seasoned with salt and pepper)
- 200 g (7 oz) bacon lardons
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) dry cider
- 150 ml (5 fl oz) chicken stock
- 150 ml (5 fl oz) crème fraîche
- 2 onions (finely chopped)
- 2 sticks celery (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 180°C, setting the stage for a rustic French culinary experience.
- Searing Foundation: Heat olive oil in an ovenproof casserole dish, then bronze chicken legs until a rich, caramelized exterior develops. Transfer to a waiting plate.
- Flavor Building: Render bacon’s fat in the same pan, then introduce onions, celery, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and aromatic. Dust with flour to create a silky sauce base.
- Liquid Alchemy: Deglaze the pan with apple cider, scraping up the caramelized remnants. Add chicken stock, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf, creating a complex flavor profile.
- Braising Process: Return chicken to the fragrant liquid, ensuring it’s fully submerged. Cover and transfer to the preheated oven for 40 minutes, allowing the ingredients to meld and transform.
- Finishing Touch: Remove chicken and whisk crème fraîche into the sauce, simmering until it reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency. Reunite the chicken with the sauce, ensuring each piece is generously coated with the creamy Normandy-style glaze.
Notes
- Chicken Selection: Choose bone-in chicken legs for maximum flavor and tender meat that absorbs the rich sauce beautifully.
- Cider Quality: Use a dry, crisp apple cider from Normandy if possible, as it significantly enhances the authentic regional taste profile.
- Browning Technique: Ensure chicken gets a deep golden-brown sear to develop complex flavor layers and create a delicious fond for the sauce.
- Sauce Consistency: Allow the sauce to reduce and thicken naturally, creating a luxurious coating that clings perfectly to the chicken without becoming too heavy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg