Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables

Source:  Southern Living

Ingredients:

  • 8 skinless, bone-in chicken thighs (about 4 lb.) (Audra used boneless)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (Audra used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 (8-oz.) package cremini mushrooms, quartered  (Audra isn’t a shroom fan so used about 1/2)
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped leek (from 1 medium leek)
  • 2 cups chicken stock  (Audra used Gluten Free)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
  • Hot cooked egg noodles  (Audra used Gluten Free rotini instead)
  • chopped fresh chives
Preparation:
Step 1

Pat chicken dry, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1⁄2 teaspoon of the pepper. Place flour in a large ziplock plastic freezer bag; add chicken to bag. Seal bag, and toss to coat with flour. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Remove chicken from bag, reserving flour in bag. Shake excess flour mixture from chicken, and place, bone side up, in skillet. Cook chicken until deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a plate, and keep warm.

Step 2

Add mushrooms to hot drippings in skillet; cook, stirring often, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add carrots and leek; cook about 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved flour; cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and wine; cook, stirring often, until sauce thickens slightly, about 6 minutes. Stir in cream and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper; add chicken, bone side down, nestling chicken into sauce mixture.

Step 3

Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until sauce has thickened slightly and chicken is almost cooked through, about 15 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with asparagus. Cover and cook until chicken is cooked through and asparagus is tender-crisp, about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Serve chicken, vegetables, and sauce over hot cooked noodles, and garnish with chives, if desired.

Chef’s Notes

Browning the chicken well makes the pan sauce rich and flavorful, so don’t rush through this step.

November 17th, 2017