Description
Hearty Normandy chicken recipe brings French countryside comfort straight to kitchen tables. Creamy apple-brandy sauce mingles with tender chicken, delivering rich flavors that transport diners to rustic French landscapes where culinary magic happens.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 chicken leg quarters
Main Ingredients:
- 2 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter (for apples)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter (for chicken)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) brandy
- 2 cups (480 ml) apple cider
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Caramelize apple slices in melted butter until golden and fragrant, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Season chicken legs with salt and pepper, then sear in the same pan over high heat until rich brown crust forms.
- Remove chicken, reduce heat and sauté finely chopped onions with minced garlic and fresh thyme until translucent.
- Deglaze pan with brandy, allowing alcohol to evaporate, then pour in crisp apple cider to create a flavorful base.
- Nestle seared chicken legs back into the liquid, cover the pan, and transfer to a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Carefully remove chicken from pan, whisk heavy cream and Dijon mustard into the cooking liquid to create a silky sauce.
- Return pan to oven, uncovered, and continue cooking for 15-20 minutes until sauce thickens and chicken reaches perfect tenderness.
- Gently fold caramelized apple slices and chicken back into the sauce, allowing everything to warm and meld together.
- Plate the chicken, generously spoon sauce over the top, and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Prevent apple browning by tossing slices in lemon juice before cooking to maintain their crisp texture and prevent discoloration.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk to reduce calories while maintaining creamy consistency.
- Choose firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape during cooking and provide a nice contrast to the rich sauce.
- Enhance depth of flavor by using homemade or high-quality hard cider, which adds more complexity compared to standard store-bought varieties.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 27 mins
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg