Lyon-Style Chicken with Vinegar Sauce

 

Contributed by April Bloomfield

• ACTIVE: 25 MIN
• TOTAL TIME: 1 HR

Ingredients: Recipe for 4 servings.

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• One 4-pound chicken, cut into 10 pieces
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 12 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup Banyuls vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 cup crème fraîche

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°. In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat until browned. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and swirl to coat the chicken. Turn the chicken skin side up and add the garlic and bay leaf.
2. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the chicken for 8 minutes, until the breast pieces are just white throughout. Transfer the breast pieces to a plate. Add the vinegar to the skillet, return to the oven and bake the remaining chicken, basting a few times, until cooked through, 15 minutes longer. Transfer the chicken and garlic to the plate.
3. Add the chicken stock to the skillet and boil, scraping up the browned bits, until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Whisk in the crème fraîche and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Return the chicken to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Simmer over moderately high heat, basting a few times, until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.