Braised Chicken with Lemon & Green Olives
Lemons and olives add a Mediterranean flair to this braised chicken. The recipe calls for picholine olives, a green olive from France that is medium in size and somewhat salty. You can substitute another type of green olive, if desired.
Ingredients:
* 1 chicken, about 5 lb., cut into 8 serving pieces
* Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
* 5 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
* 1⁄4 cup Chardonnay wine reduction*
* 30 picholine or other green olives
* 1 lemon, sliced 1⁄8 inch thick
* 2 bay leaves
* 3 1⁄2 cups chicken stock
* 1⁄4 cup ****ped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions:
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large braiser over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until almost smoking. Working in batches, brown the chicken on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 seconds; do not allow it to burn. Add the Chardonnay wine reduction and cook, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the pan bottom, about 2 minutes. Add the olives, lemon slices and bay leaves and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the chicken is very tender, about 1 1⁄2 hours.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
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