French Peasant Chicken Stew Recipes

Steps:

• Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with the thyme, salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off the excess. Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and crisp on both sides. Remove to a plate. Melt the butter in the pot over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until lightly browned. Add the shallots, carrots and sugar, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes to soften. Deglaze with the wine, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Stir in the tarragon, olives and tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pot and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the baguette on an angle and toast in the oven. Divide the chicken and sauce among plates and serve with the baguette. Cook's Note: The stewed chicken can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat.

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken but don't skin.
• Salt the pieces and dredge them lightly in the flour, brushing off and saving the excess.
• Trim off and discard the bacon rind.
• Slice the bacon across the width into 1/4 pieces Heat the oil in a large kettle and brown the bacon lightly.
• Remove and set aside.
• Brown the chicken pices in batches, removing them as they finish browning.
• Remove and discard all but 3 Tbs of the fat.
• Add the onion, pepper, tarragon, and the remaining flour.
• Scrape these back and forth in the hot fat until the onion is transparent.
• Add the tomatoes and their juice and continue the scraping action until most of the juice has evaporated.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of water, the wine, and the crumbled bouillon cube.
• Add the bacon, chicken, peas, and carrots.
• Cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes Scrub the new potatoes under cold water and pare off a one inch strip around the middle of each one, leaving the peel on the ends.
• Add them to the stew and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Stir in the parsley.
• Salt to taste, and serve hot.

Steps:

• In a 5 to 6- quart slow cooker combine mushrooms, undrained tomatoes, carrots, onion, potato, green beans, olives, broth, wine, tapioca, herbes de Provence, thyme and pepper. Place chicken on top; sprinkle with seasoned salt. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-4 hours.
• Stir in pasta sauce. If desired, serve with French bread.