This is a traditional French dish which is full of flavour and in traditional French style it is very good for those watching their weight. If you are on a low fat diet be reassured that very little fat is present in this dish, it is also suitable for those on the Atkins diet as it is low in carbohydrates. The casserole is traditionally made with chicken leg portions, button onions and mushrooms. Personally I find fiddling with chicken legs a pain when I am eating, I find it difficult to get hold of button onions, and find button mushrooms flavourless and so I have substituted all of these. If you would prefer the more traditional approach these are the only ingredients you need to substitute, and they are a direct swap. The quantities shown serve two. To get the true feel of France serve this casserole with plenty of crusty bread to mop up the juices.
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken breasts (I prefer skinless)
- 2 Cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- Ground black pepper
- 1 Large onion, cut into 16ths
- 150g Bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 300ml Red wine
- 1 Chicken stock cube
- 50g Tomato puree
- 300g Mushrooms, cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp Fresh chopped thyme
- 1 tsp gravy granules
Method
- Dice the chicken into large chunks, coat with the garlic and plenty of black pepper. Fry in a little oil until the chicken is browned all over.
- Add the bacon and onion to the pan, and fry until the bacon is cooked.
- Add the wine to the pan, along with the tomato puree, chicken stock cube, mushrooms, thyme and gravy granules.
- Leave to cook over a gentle heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a little water as required.