6 Strips Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon, cut into 1/4” pieces.
1 Shallot, peeled & finely diced.
1 Lb Brown Mushrooms, sliced.
4 Chicken Legs.
Coarse Sea Salt & Fresh Cracked Black Pepper.
All Purpose Flour, for dredging.
700ml Dark Beer.
1 1/2 C Chicken Stock.
1 C Pearl Onions, peeled.
2 Large Carrots, sliced.
2 Tbsp Ground Mustard.
4 Tbsp Local, Organic Honey.
3 Bay Leaves.
1 Large Sprig Fresh Thyme.
1 Tbsp Tomato Paste.
1/4 C Heavy Cream.
2 Tbsp Fresh Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped.
Instructions
30 Minutes before cooking, remove the chicken from the fridge to allow the meat to come to room temp so it cooks evenly.
When you're ready to cook, heat a large heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain.Add the shallot and onions to the bacon fat, season with salt and saute about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, stir well and saute until the mushrooms start to brown (approx 2 – 3 minutes). Again, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
As the onions cook, generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge in the flour, shaking off the excess. Once you remove the onion and mushrooms, turn up the heat to medium-high and place the chicken into the remaining bacon fat, fleshy side down. If necessary, add a Tbsp or two of oil. Allow to brown (approx 5 minutes), flip and brown the other side for one minute. If your legs are quite large, you may need to do this in batches. Don't crowd the pan or you'll steam your chicken, rather than brown it.
Once all 4 legs have been well browned, place them all in the pot and add the beer, broth, onions, carrots, mustard, tomato paste, honey, bay leaves and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer, cover and allow to cook for 60 minutes. Watch that the beer doesn't foam all over the place – it may try to a couple of times.
Remove the cover and allow the sauce to reduce for about 30 minutes.By now the chicken will be cooked, juicy and fall off the bone tender.
Discard the bay leaves and remaining thyme stem. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, bacon and parsley. Serve with a hunk of bread or atop polenta. Or both.
Eat.
Notes
Adapted from Denise
Recipe by She Eats at https://sheeats.ca/2013/09/september-src-reveal-beer-braised-chicken-thighs/