Coq au vin (Chicken in wine)

emointhekitchen

Coq au vin, which translates to “chicken in wine,” is a traditional French dish that beautifully harmonises flavours with its rustic ingredients. This dish not only represents the heart of French cuisine but also provides a warm, comforting meal that is perfect for any occasion. Let’s dive into the recipe!

You will need:

3 chicken quarters
7 balls of allspice
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
100 g pancetta
6 shallots, cut in half
1 large carrot
4 cloves of garlic
175 g small mushrooms (Champignon)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 tablespoons plain flour
700 ml dry red wine
500 ml chicken broth
1 bay leaf
Chopped parsley for garnish

Procedure:

Preheat your oven to 180℃. In a large oven-safe frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta to the pan and cook until it becomes crispy. Next, season the chicken quarters with salt and pepper, then place them in the pan and brown them on all sides. Add the shallots, carrot, and garlic to the pan, sautéing for a few minutes until softened. Stir in the small mushrooms, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, and allspice.

Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Pour in the dry red wine, chicken broth, and add the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, transfer the pan to the preheated oven and cook for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked. When done, remove from the oven, discard the bay leaf, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Wine

It is sweet, sour, and warming, and red wine warms more than white. In moderate amounts, typically 1 to 2 small glasses per day, wine can be beneficial, aiding digestion and enhancing the circulation of qi and blood. However, excessive consumption can lead to harmful effects, including the formation of Damp-Hot and damage to yin, which are influenced by the volume consumed and the individual’s constitution. Therapeutically, wine is beneficial for addressing painful obstruction syndrome and improving poor blood circulation, particularly red wine, which has stronger blood-strengthening properties.

Wine is known for its ability to promote blood circulation, promote qi circulation, and disperse cold.
In general, the ancient Chinese medical texts cite that it enters the Lung, Stomach, Heart, and Liver. The flavour of Wine is sweet, sour, and acrid, and it is considered to be warm in temperature

Cautions:

Avoid consumption in conditions of blood heat (XUE RE), liver heat (GAN RE), and dampness with heat (SHI/RE). Alcoholic beverages are unsuitable for people with inflammation, digestive tract diseases, and cancer.