**Savory Braised Chicken Legs Enhanced with Sweet Grapes and Aromatic Fennel**
Embark on a culinary journey with our delectable Braised Chicken Legs with Grapes and Fennel, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. This dish harmoniously blends the savory richness of chicken legs with the natural sweetness of grapes and the refreshing anise flavor of fennel. Indulge in a tender and juicy chicken enveloped in a luscious sauce, complemented by a medley of plump grapes and aromatic fennel. Our diverse collection of recipes offers variations to suit every palate, from a classic French-inspired preparation to a tangy Moroccan twist. Prepare to savor this delightful dish that effortlessly elevates your weeknight dinner or special occasion feast.
BRAISED CHICKEN LEGS WITH GRAPES AND FENNEL
Steps:
- Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°F. Season chicken legs all over with 3 tsp. salt.
- Swirl 1 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot to coat and heat over medium-high. Place 2 chicken legs, skin side down, in pot, making sure skin is in direct contact with pan. Cook, undisturbed, until dark golden, about 5 minutes. Turn over and cook until golden on other side, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with remaining 2 chicken legs; reserve pot.
- Meanwhile, working one at a time, stand a bulb, root end down, on a cutting board and slice off a short end to create a flat surface. Turn cut side down and slice ½" thick, starting from the top end of bulb so the root end can hold the layers in place while you slice. Discard last ¼" (root end) of each bulb and pop out and discard tougher center from slices. Transfer fennel to a large bowl and add half of the grapes, ½ tsp. salt, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil; toss to coat. Set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and combine broth, honey, chile paste, and remaining 1 tsp. salt in reserved pot. Stir to combine and dissolve salt. Place remaining grapes in pot and arrange chicken legs, skin side up and overlapping if needed, over grapes. Top with dressed fennel and grapes. (Don't worry if it looks crowded: Fennel will soften as it cooks.)
- Transfer pot, uncovered, to oven and roast until fennel is slightly softened, with some crispy, caramelized edges, grapes on top are swollen and browned in spots, and chicken is cooked through, 30-40 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer grapes and fennel to a bowl and chicken to a platter. Place pot over medium-high heat and bring braising liquid to a simmer. Cook until reduced by half (you should have about 1 cup liquid), 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar and fennel fronds.
- Spoon sauce over chicken and serve with fennel and grapes alongside.
CHICKEN BRAISED WITH GRAPES
This chicken casserole is simple to prepare, yet stunning and a trifle unusual to serve. The addition of whole clusters of seedless grapes elevates it from easy everyday to dinner-party material. I based it on two recipes: the memory of a chicken dish that I ate many years ago in Toulouse, France, and the classic poulet au vinaigre, or chicken in vinegar sauce. A mellow, aged sherry vinegar and a high-quality balsamic complement the grapes. I prefer a 15-year-old balsamic, which replaces the smidgen of tomato that is often included in poulet au vinaigre. One final tip: Be sure the grapes you select - and they can be black or green instead of red - are sweet and have green stems, an indication of freshness.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, one pot, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Pat chicken parts dry. Melt butter in a 4-quart casserole. Brown chicken on both sides, a few pieces at a time, over medium-high heat, removing pieces to a platter as they finish. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium.
- Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, a couple of minutes until soft. Stir in sherry vinegar, chicken stock and cardamom. Return chicken to the pot and baste with stock mixture. Place grape bunches in pot, add thyme, cover and reduce heat to very low. Let cook 30 minutes. Chicken juices should run clear when thigh or leg is pierced with the tip of a knife.
- Transfer chicken to a warm serving platter and arrange grape clusters on top and around chicken. Tent with foil to keep warm. Heat pot on high, stir in balsamic vinegar and cook 2 to 3 minutes until sauce is somewhat reduced and thickened. Check seasoning. Discard thyme. Spoon sauce over chicken and grapes, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 660, UnsaturatedFat 26 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 51 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 901 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use a variety of grapes. This will give your dish a more complex flavor. Some good options include red grapes, green grapes, and black grapes.
- Roast the fennel before adding it to the pot. This will help to caramelize the fennel and bring out its sweetness.
- Don't overcrowd the pot. If you overcrowd the pot, the chicken will not brown properly and the vegetables will not cook evenly.
- Braise the chicken until it is fall-off-the-bone tender. This will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Serve the chicken with a side of rice or potatoes. This will help to soak up the delicious sauce.
Conclusion:
Braised chicken legs with grapes and fennel is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is tender and flavorful, and the grapes and fennel add a sweet and savory flavor. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
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