Name: Spring chicken pot au feu
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, skin on (180gm each); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 celery stalk, leaves attached; 6 thyme sprigs; 3 flat-leaf parsley sprigs; 3 fresh bay leaves; 40 gm butter, coarsely chopped; 8 baby leeks, trimmed; 4 baby golden beetroot, trimmed, scrubbed; 4 baby turnips, trimmed, scrubbed; 4 each purple and orange Dutch carrots, scrubbed; 4 chat potatoes, halved; 4 golden shallots; 100 gm speck, rind removed, cut into lardons; 200 gm dry white wine; 1 litre (4 cups) good-quality chicken stock; Herb butter; 100 gm softened butter; 1 tbsp each finely chopped mint and tarragon; 2 tsp thyme

“The chicken pot au feu at Gunshop Café is delicious. I would love to make it at home if they’re happy to share the recipe.”

Melanie David, Brisbane, Qld

To request a recipe, write to Fare Exchange, , GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email us. All requests should include the restaurant’s name and address or business card, as well as your name and address.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, skin on (180gm each)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 celery stalk, leaves attached

6 thyme sprigs

3 flat-leaf parsley sprigs

3 fresh bay leaves

40 gm butter, coarsely chopped

8 baby leeks, trimmed

4 baby golden beetroot, trimmed, scrubbed

4 baby turnips, trimmed, scrubbed

4 each purple and orange Dutch carrots, scrubbed

4 chat potatoes, halved

4 golden shallots

100 gm speck, rind removed, cut into lardons

200 gm dry white wine

1 litre (4 cups) good-quality chicken stock

Herb butter

100 gm softened butter

1 tbsp each finely chopped mint and tarragon

2 tsp thyme

Method

Main

1.For herb butter, combine ingredients in a bowl, season to taste and set aside.

2.Preheat oven to 180C. Carefully loosen skin from chicken breasts by gently sliding your fingers between skin and flesh, then stuff herb butter under skin, pushing gently to spread evenly. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts skin-side down and cook, turning once, until golden (3-4 minutes). Set aside.

3.Tie celery and herbs with kitchen string to make a bouquet garni and set aside. Heat butter in a casserole over medium heat, add vegetables and shallots, stir occasionally until starting to colour (3-4 minutes), then add speck and cook until golden (3-5 minutes). Deglaze with wine, add stock, bouquet garni, and chicken skin-side up, season to taste, then braise in oven until cooked through (15-20 minutes). Season to taste and serve hot.

This recipe is from the August 2012 issue of .
Notes

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Styling by Alice Storey

Styling by Lucy Weight

Ingredients

Method

Main

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