Posts Tagged ‘chicken and potatoes’

In both French and Italian cooking you will run across various recipes for “Housewife Chicken”.  It is normally a yummy chicken and potato dish.  This is my version.  To make this chicken its very best, try brining it for several hours if you have time. If you don’t have time to brine the chicken, don’t worry about it.  It’s still fabulous!

For this dish, I recommend using a braiser. I use the All-Clad large braiser. If you don’t have a braiser, you can get away with using a large pan with a lid, but you ought to pick one up if at all possible.  You will use it again and again when cooking for your family.  The curved lid of a braiser aids the cooking process, and there is nothing better than a good braise when you’re cooking up comfort.

Ingredients for HFT Hearty Housewife Chicken

• Chicken pieces with skin on and bones in
• 2 slices bacon - diced
• 1 small yellow onion - chopped
• 8 oz. mushrooms - sliced
• 1-2 russet potatoes - peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large braiser over medium to medium-high heat, add some olive oil (about 2 Tbsp) and then brown your chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.

Do this in batches so as not to crowd the pan.  The goal here is to brown the chicken only, not to cook it through.

2. Once browned, remove the chicken to a separate plate and set aside until all chicken is browned.
3. In that same braiser, cook bacon just until it begins to brown.

Add a bit more olive oil if necessary.

4. Add onion and mushrooms to the bacon and saute.  Add a bit more olive oil if necessary and season with salt and pepper.
5. Once all is sautéed, add the potatoes and stir all together.

Allow the potatoes to absorb some of the yummy flavors.

6. Stir all together well.
7. Combine the wine and chicken broth in a measuring cup and pour into the braiser.
8. Using a wood spatula, scrape up the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan.
9. Bring this to a bubble and allow the alcohol from the wine to cook off then turn down to a simmer.
10. Nestle the chicken back into the pan atop the potato mixture and cover with the lid.
11. Cook covered over low heat for 40 minutes.

To serve, spoon the potato mixture on a plate with a slotted spoon and rest a piece of chicken against it.  My daughter’s favorite steamed broccoli completes this meal.