In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes can rival the timeless allure of chicken and leeks braised in wine. This classic French dish captures the essence of comfort food, where tender chicken and succulent leeks bask in a rich and flavorful broth, infused with the heady aromas of herbs and the delicate acidity of wine. It's a journey for the taste buds, promising a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that will tantalize your senses and leave you craving more. Let's embark on a culinary adventure as we delve into the secrets of creating the perfect chicken and leeks braised in wine, a dish that embodies the essence of culinary mastery and gustatory pleasure.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS
Adding crème fraîche and fancy mushrooms to a pan full of wine-braised chicken makes it ultrarich and extra special. This recipe is perfect for a festive dinner when you're looking for a chicken dish that's a little more dressed up than your average weeknight meal, but it isn't overly difficult. Make it a day or two in advance, and, like all braises, it gets even better with time.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories poultry, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Finely grate, pass through a press or mince 2 garlic cloves. Set aside half the grated garlic for finishing the dish. Rub the rest all over the chicken pieces. Set aside the chicken while preparing the other ingredients.
- In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter melts, add chicken in batches and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If the pan dries out, add a little more oil as needed. Transfer browned chicken to a plate.
- Add remaining tablespoon each oil and butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add mushrooms and cook undisturbed until well browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir and cook for 1 minute longer.
- Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in sliced garlic, leeks and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender and golden brown, 7 minutes. Add rosemary and wine to the pot and let simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until liquid reduces by half, about 1 minute.
- Nestle chicken, skin side up, into the pan and pour in any accumulated juices from the plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 25 to 35 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Pluck the rosemary sprigs from the pot. If the sauce looks thin, turn the heat to medium-high and let simmer until it thickens slightly, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining grated garlic, the crème fraîche, chives and lemon zest. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed. Spoon sauce over the chicken and top with parsley, more lemon zest and a dollop of crème fraîche, if you like, and serve.
PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEEKS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet and cook over medium-high heat until some of the fat renders, about 5 minutes. Push the bacon to the side of the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add it to the pan and cook, turning, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and leeks, then arrange the chicken on top of the bacon-leek mixture. Transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is golden and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter.
- Carefully return the skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the broth and half-and-half and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spoon the leek mixture over the chicken. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges.
- Per serving: Calories 418; Fat 24 g (Saturated 8 g); Cholesterol 147 mg; Sodium 322 mg; Carbohydrate 14 g; Fiber 1 g; Protein 34 g
SIMPLE BRAISED LEEKS
Steps:
- Remove outer leaves; cut dark-green ends from leeks. Trim roots, keeping leaves attached. Halve lengthwise; rinse to remove grit.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks to pan and arrange cut side down in a single layer. Cook until softened and light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn leeks and cook on the other side until softened, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn the leeks again so they are cut side down and peel off any papery outer layers. Add stock and wine, stirring to deglaze pan. Cook for 1 minute. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover with a parchment paper round. Cook until the leeks are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes.
- Remove parchment, raise heat, and cook until liquid is reduced, about 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with coarse salt and parsley; serve.
BRAISED LEEKS WITH PARMESAN
My friend Elizabeth tells me that even people who think they don't like leeks like this dish. The leeks are braised in wine and water or stock until soft and golden, then topped with Parmesan and run under a broiler, so you get a crunchy layer on top of soft cooked leeks. One of the tricks here is to discard the outer layers that become papery when you cook them, so that the whole leek will be soft and easy to cut through.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories side dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Cut the ends and the dark green leaves of the leeks, and cut in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then run under the faucet to remove any sand that may be lingering in between the layers. Peel off thick outer layers and discard.
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet that will accommodate all of the leeks in one layer. Place the leeks in the pan, cut side down, and cook, shaking the pan and moving them around with tongs, until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the leeks over and cook on the other side until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn the leeks back over so that the cut side is down. Peel off the outer layers if they are papery, as they will not soften when the leeks are braised. Pour in the wine and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, then add enough water or stock to come just to the top of the leeks. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until the leeks are thoroughly tender when pierced with a knife. Most of the liquid should have evaporated by this time. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
- Transfer the leeks to an oiled ovenproof pan if your skillet cannot go under the broiler. Using tongs, turn the leeks so that the flat side is up. If there is still a lot of liquid in the pan, pour it off. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the leeks. Place under the hot broiler until the cheese has melted and is beginning to color. Remove from the heat and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 135, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 278 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams
BRAISED CHICKEN BREASTS ON CREAMY LEEKS
Steps:
- Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
- Add wine to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes. Add leeks and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, then simmer over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth. Top leeks with chicken breasts and juices from plate, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until leeks are tender and chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes .
- Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add cream to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve chicken on top of leeks.
Tips:
- Choose the right chicken: For this recipe, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts are best. The bones and skin add flavor to the dish.
- Brown the chicken: Browning the chicken before braising it adds flavor and color. Be sure to brown the chicken in a single layer so that it gets evenly browned.
- Use a good quality wine: The wine you use in this recipe should be one that you would enjoy drinking. A dry white wine or a light-bodied red wine are both good choices.
- Don't overcrowd the pot: When you add the chicken and leeks to the pot, make sure that they are not overcrowded. If the pot is too crowded, the chicken will not brown evenly and the leeks will not cook through.
- Cook the chicken until it is tender: The chicken is done cooking when it is cooked through and the juices run clear. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion:
Chicken and leeks braised in wine is a classic French dish that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The chicken is tender and flavorful, and the leeks are soft and sweet. The wine sauce is rich and flavorful, and it perfectly complements the chicken and leeks. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.
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