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1
Cook some diced bacon (or lardons) in a Dutch oven on the hub with a bit of butter and oil (the oil helps stop the butter from burning).
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2
Once cooked remove the bacon with a slotted spoon so the fat stays in the pan.
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3
Next cook some chicken (thighs are best with this), skin down in the same pan/dutch oven.
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4
Once the chicken has a bit of colour to it, remove it.
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5
Next add mushrooms (as many as you like halved), carrots (1 diced), red onions (2 quartered) and a couple of cloves of garlic (minced) to the same pan.
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6
Cook until the onions have caramelized and the mushrooms have a bit of colour to them then add a shot of brandy (optional).
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7
Next add about 500ml of red wine to it with about 250ml of chicken stock (modify measurements as needed.
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8
Its 2/3 wine to 1/3 chicken stock)
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9
Once it starts to simmer add back the chicken and bacon.
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10
Then add a few sprigs of thyme, couple of bay leaves and season to taste.
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11
Next place the Dutch oven (with the lid on) in the oven at gas mark 4 (180C/350F) and cook for about two hours.
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12
(Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes).
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13
Once the two hours are up remove the Dutch oven from the oven and place back onto the hub and remove the chicken.
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14
If the liquid still needs a bit more reducing, do that now.
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15
Next skim off any fat, remove the thyme and bay leaves and add some corn starch to thicken the sauce.
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16
Ideally you should use Beurre manie, but corn starch will be fine.
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17
Once the sauce is at the desired thickness add the chicken back to warm it though with some chopped parsley.
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18
Serve with mashed potatoes.
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19
TIP#
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20
I used a baked potato to make the mash.
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21
Just place the potato/s in the top of the oven with the Coq au vin.
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22
2hrs at gas mark 4 (180C/350F) will give you a nice fluffy potato.
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23
Once the potato is cooked, cut it in half and scrape out the innards with a spoon and place into a bowl.
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24
Next add a splash of milk and a knob of butter and mash with a fork.
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25
I also like adding a small amount of english mustard to my mash.