Coq Au Vin (Chicken Braised In Wine)

• 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine (use a wine you'd enjoy drinking)
• 3 -5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 8 whole peppercorns
• 3 -5 sprigs parsley
• 1 medium free-range chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 ounces bacon, cut into strips or lardons
• 2 large onions, chopped roughly
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• plain flour
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces brandy
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 4 ounces button mushrooms, halved or quartered if large
• 20 small white pearl onions
• 2 ounces butter
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• beurre manie
• 1 teaspoon plain flour, mixed with
• 1 teaspoon butter, to make a paste
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1. Bring the red wine to the boil with the sprigs of thyme, parsley, bay leaves and peppercorns, then leave to cool for 1 hour; pour the wine over the chicken pieces and marinate for 12 hours.
2. Fry the bacon in a frying pan, remove with a slotted spoon; add the oil to the pan and fry the onions until softened; remove to casserole dish.
3. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper.
4. Dust the chicken pieces with a little flour, then put them in the frying pan and brown them lightly; pour in the warmed brandy and flambe it (or cook off alcohol); transfer the chicken pieces and liquid to the casserole and add the bacon, strained marinade (with tomato paste stirred in), garlic and mushrooms; cover and cook in a preheated oven at 300F for about 1 hour.
5. In the meantime, fry the small onions in butter with the sugar and a little water until glazed; add to the casserole and cook for a further 30 minutes; if the sauce needs thickening, stir in a few small knobs of beurre manie.
6. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the chopped parsley over before serving.

red wine, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, parsley, chicken, olive oil, bacon, onions, tomato paste, flour, brandy, garlic, button mushrooms, white pearl, butter, sugar, beurre manie, flour, butter, parsley

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/coq-au-vin-chicken-braised-in-wine-109427 (may not work)