Coq au vin recipe
 Simon Hopkinson’s coq au vin recipe emphasises the rustic charm and comforting flavour of classic French food. 1 bottle good-quality red wine (preferably Pinot Noir)1 tbsp redcurrant jelly1 small onion, chopped 2 sticks celery, chopped1 carrot, chopped4 garlic cloves, un-peeled, bruised3-4 sprigs fresh thyme2 bay leaves2 cloves 1 bottle good-quality red wine (preferably Pinot Noir) 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly 1 small onion, chopped 2 sticks celery, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 4 garlic cloves, un-peeled, bruised 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 bay leaves 2 cloves 4 large chicken legs (with thighs), skin removed1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for shallow frying 100g/3½oz smoked pancetta cubes salt and freshly ground black pepper1 tbsp plain flour25g/1oz butter20 button onions, peeled 20 button mushrooms3 tbsp cognacolive oil, for shallow frying4 thick slices of good-quality white bread, crusts removed, cut into triangles3-4 tbsp chopped fresh parsleyboiled or steamed potatoes, to serve 4 large chicken legs (with thighs), skin removed 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for shallow frying 100g/3½oz smoked pancetta cubes salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp plain flour 25g/1oz butter 20 button onions, peeled 20 button mushrooms 3 tbsp cognac olive oil, for shallow frying 4 thick slices of good-quality white bread, crusts removed, cut into triangles 3-4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley boiled or steamed potatoes, to serve Method Place the marinade ingredients into a casserole dish and bring to the boil. Allow the volume of liquid to reduce by one-third and strain into a clean, non-reactive bowl and set aside to cool. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade, cover and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 5-6 hours or, preferably, overnight.Warm the olive oil in the casserole dish and gently fry the pancetta until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve. Remove the chicken joints from the marinade, setting the liquid aside. Season the chicken joints with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dredge the joints in the flour, and then fry until golden-brown in a little olive oil. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Add the butter to the dish and place the onions and mushrooms into the casserole and fry gently for 10 minutes, or until golden-brown. Remove any excess fat with a spoon and return the chicken and bacon to the pot, turn up the heat and pour over the cognac. Set alight, allow the flames to die down and then add the reserved, reduced wine. Gently simmer for one hour. (Alternatively, cook the casserole in an oven preheated to 170C/325F/Gas 3.)Heat 2.5cm/1in depth of vegetable oil in a heavy-based frying pan. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Shallow fry the bread triangles for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon. Finally, dip one edge of the fried bread into the hot coq au vin sauce, then into the parsley.Serve the coq au vin with simply boiled or steamed potatoes and with the bread triangles. Place the marinade ingredients into a casserole dish and bring to the boil. Allow the volume of liquid to reduce by one-third and strain into a clean, non-reactive bowl and set aside to cool. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade, cover and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 5-6 hours or, preferably, overnight. Place the marinade ingredients into a casserole dish and bring to the boil. Allow the volume of liquid to reduce by one-third and strain into a clean, non-reactive bowl and set aside to cool. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade, cover and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 5-6 hours or, preferably, overnight. Warm the olive oil in the casserole dish and gently fry the pancetta until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve. Warm the olive oil in the casserole dish and gently fry the pancetta until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve. Remove the chicken joints from the marinade, setting the liquid aside. Season the chicken joints with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dredge the joints in the flour, and then fry until golden-brown in a little olive oil. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Remove the chicken joints from the marinade, setting the liquid aside. Season the chicken joints with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dredge the joints in the flour, and then fry until golden-brown in a little olive oil. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the butter to the dish and place the onions and mushrooms into the casserole and fry gently for 10 minutes, or until golden-brown. Remove any excess fat with a spoon and return the chicken and bacon to the pot, turn up the heat and pour over the cognac. Set alight, allow the flames to die down and then add the reserved, reduced wine. Gently simmer for one hour. (Alternatively, cook the casserole in an oven preheated to 170C/325F/Gas 3.) Add the butter to the dish and place the onions and mushrooms into the casserole and fry gently for 10 minutes, or until golden-brown. Remove any excess fat with a spoon and return the chicken and bacon to the pot, turn up the heat and pour over the cognac. Set alight, allow the flames to die down and then add the reserved, reduced wine. Gently simmer for one hour. (Alternatively, cook the casserole in an oven preheated to 170C/325F/Gas 3.) Heat 2.5cm/1in depth of vegetable oil in a heavy-based frying pan. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Shallow fry the bread triangles for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon. Finally, dip one edge of the fried bread into the hot coq au vin sauce, then into the parsley. Heat 2.5cm/1in depth of vegetable oil in a heavy-based frying pan. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Shallow fry the bread triangles for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown. Remove with a slotted spoon. Finally, dip one edge of the fried bread into the hot coq au vin sauce, then into the parsley. Serve the coq au vin with simply boiled or steamed potatoes and with the bread triangles. Serve the coq au vin with simply boiled or steamed potatoes and with the bread triangles. Recipe tips A good coq au vin tastes infinitely better re-heated the next day. This also allows for any fat that has collected on the surface to be easily removed, having solidified in the fridge.