Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin

Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin recipe, also known as chicken in red wine sauce, is one of the best and easiest Coq Au Vin recipes out there, even better than the traditional French Coq Au Vin recipe. This Coq Au Vin is made with either red or white wine, chicken, vegetables, and a few other ingredients. It can be cooked in a slow cooker, oven, or an Instant Pot. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you love this recipe.

What Is Coq Au Vin 

Coq Au Vin is a traditional French dish made with chicken that’s slow-cooked with wine, lardons (small strips or cubes of pork fat), mushrooms, and possibly garlic. The name “Coq Au Vin” translates to “rooster with wine” in English, reflecting the dish’s rustic origins where an old rooster would be slow-cooked in wine to tenderize the meat and enhance the flavors. 

Coq Au Vin Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 4 ounces of good bacon or pancetta, diced
• 1 (3 to 4-pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/4 cup Cognac or good brandy
• 1/2 bottle (375 ml) good dry red wine such as Burgundy
• 1 cup good chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 10 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 pound frozen small whole onions
• 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thickly sliced

How To Make The Best Coq Au Vin

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.
2. Cook the Chicken: Pat dry the chicken and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken pieces in batches in the Dutch oven. Remove the chicken to the plate with the bacon.
3. Prepare the Vegetables: Add the carrots, onions, salt, and pepper to the pan and cook until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Combine Ingredients and Cook: Add the Cognac, bacon, chicken, wine, chicken stock, and thyme to the pot. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot, and place it in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
5. Final Touches: Mash 1 tablespoon of butter and the flour together and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions and mushrooms. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve hot.

How To Make Coq Au Vin In Slow Cooker

To make Coq Au Vin in a slow cooker, follow the same preparation steps: brown the bacon and chicken, and sauté the vegetables. Once you’ve done this, transfer everything to your slow cooker. Add the Cognac, wine, chicken stock, and thyme. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. 

Just an hour before serving, mix the butter and flour and stir it into the stew along with the frozen onions and mushrooms. Cover and cook for another hour. Season to taste and serve hot.

How To Make Coq Au Vin In Instant Pot

To make Coq Au Vin in an Instant Pot, use the sauté function to brown the bacon and chicken, and to sauté the vegetables. Add the Cognac carefully (it may flame), then add the wine, chicken stock, and thyme. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes. 

Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Stir in the butter-flour mixture, frozen onions, and mushrooms, and use the sauté function to simmer the stew for another 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve hot.

How To Make Coq Au Vin With White Wine

Traditionally, Coq Au Vin is made with red wine, but it can also be made with white wine for a lighter, more delicate flavor. To make Coq Au Vin with white wine, simply replace the red wine in the recipe with a dry white wine. A good-quality Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc would work well. The ratio remains the same – use half a bottle (375 ml). The cooking process and times remain the same as well. 

What Is The Best Wine For Coq Au Vin

The best wine for Coq Au Vin is typically a dry, full-bodied red wine. In France, where the dish originates, it’s traditionally made with a Burgundy wine. However, other red wines like Pinot Noir, Côtes du Rhône, or even a Cabernet Sauvignon can also be used. 

 The key is to choose a wine that you enjoy drinking, as the flavor of the wine will greatly influence the dish. If you’re making a white wine version, a dry, crisp white like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc would be a good choice. 

How To Make Vegetarian Coq Au Vin

To make a vegetarian version of Coq Au Vin, just replace the chicken with portobello mushrooms or eggplant. These vegetables will hold up well during the cooking process and absorb the flavors of the wine and other ingredients.

Here’s how you can adjust the recipe:

• Replace the 3 to 4-pound chicken with about 2 pounds of portobello mushrooms or eggplant, cut into large chunks.
• Instead of bacon, use a vegetarian bacon substitute or simply omit it.
• Use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.

The rest of the recipe and cooking times remain the same.

How To Make Vegan Coq Au Vin

To make a vegan version of Coq Au Vin, follow the adjustments for the vegetarian version and also replace the butter with a vegan butter substitute or olive oil.

Here’s how you can adjust the recipe:

• Replace the 3 to 4-pound chicken with about 2 pounds of portobello mushrooms or eggplant, cut into large chunks.
• Instead of bacon, use a vegan bacon substitute or simply remove it.
• Use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
• Replace the butter with a vegan butter substitute or olive oil.

The rest of the recipe and cooking times remain the same.

How To Make Coq Au Vin Ahead Of Time

You can make coq au vin a day or two in advance, just follow the steps:

1. Prepare the Recipe: Follow the Coq Au Vin recipe as instructed. Cook the bacon, brown the chicken, and sauté the vegetables. Add the cognac, wine, chicken stock, and thyme, and bring the mixture to a simmer.
2. Let it Cool: Instead of placing the pot in the oven, let the mixture cool down completely. This might take a few hours.
3. Refrigerate: Once the mixture is cool, cover the pot and place it in the refrigerator. You can do this a day or two before you plan to serve the dish.
4. Reheat and Serve: On the day you plan to serve the Coq Au Vin, take the pot out of the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Place the pot in the oven and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just not pink. Proceed with the recipe, adding the butter-flour mixture, frozen onions, and mushrooms. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve hot.

How Long Does Coq Au Vin Last In The Fridge 

Cooked Coq Au Vin can last in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To store Coq Au Vin properly, simply let it cool, then pour it into glass containers and place it in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Coq Au Vin 

Yes, Coq Au Vin freezes well and can last about 2-3 months in the freezer. The best way to freeze it is to let it cool completely, then transfer it into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion.

When you’re ready to serve it again, just thaw it in the fridge overnight and it will be completely defrosted by the next morning.

How To Reheat Coq Au Vin 

To reheat refrigerated Coq Au Vin, transfer it to a pot and heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it’s heated through.

How Do You Reheat Frozen Coq, Au Vin?

To reheat frozen Coq Au Vin, it’s best to let it thaw overnight in the fridge first. Once it’s thawed, you can reheat it in a pot over medium-low heat until it’s warmed through. If you’re in a hurry, you can also reheat it directly from frozen, but you’ll need to use a lower heat and stir frequently to ensure it heats evenly.

What To Serve With Coq Au Vin 

Serve this Jamie Oliver Coq Au Vin with Orzo Salad, Naan Bread, Pickled Red Onions or Jamie Oliver Brussel Sprouts And Bacon.

Coq Au Vin Calories And Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving (661 grams)

• Calories: 712
• Total Fat: 26 grams
• Saturated Fat: 10 grams
• Trans Fat: 0.3 grams
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.3 grams
• Monounsaturated Fat: 9.3 grams
• Cholesterol: 171 milligrams
• Sodium: 731 milligrams
• Total Carbohydrates: 28 grams
• Dietary Fiber: 4.3 grams
• Sugars: 10 grams
• Protein: 56 grams

Coq Au Vin FAQs

Is Coq Au Vin Healthy 

Coq Au Vin can be considered not particularly healthy due to its high-fat content from the bacon and butter, as well as the presence of alcohol from the wine.

What Is The Best Way To Thicken Coq Au Vin?

The best way to thicken Coq Au Vin is to use a “beurre manié”, a mixture of butter and flour. Near the end of the cooking time, mix 1 tablespoon of butter with 1.5 tablespoons of flour to form a paste. Stir this mixture into the coq au vin until thicken.

Why Is My Coq Au Vin Purple?

If your Coq Au Vin is purple, it’s likely due to the type of red wine used in the recipe. The pigments in the wine can dye the chicken and vegetables a purple hue. This is completely normal and doesn’t affect the taste of the dish.

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