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French Chicken Casserole a la Normande

Delicious French Chicken Casserole a la Normande for Cozy Nights

This French Chicken Casserole a la Normande is a warm, comforting dish perfect for cozy evenings, featuring tender chicken, aromatic cider, and creamy richness.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: French
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Casserole
  • 6 pieces Chicken Thighs and Legs Use skin-on and bone-in for better flavor.
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil For browning the chicken.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt To enhance flavor.
  • 2 pieces Shallots Can substitute with medium onion.
  • 2 stalks Celery Provides an aromatic base.
  • 3 sprigs Thyme Sprigs For earthy notes.
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced.
  • 150 grams Bacon Lardons For smoky richness.
  • 100 ml Brandy or Whiskey For deglazing.
  • 2 tablespoons Flour To thicken the sauce.
  • 500 ml Chicken Stock Base of the sauce.
  • 300 ml Hard Dry Apple Cider Can use non-alcoholic cider.
  • 2 pieces Apples Cut into wedges for frying.
  • 200 ml Double Cream/Heavy Cream Can be omitted for lighter version.
For Serving
  • 4 servings Mashed Potatoes or Fluffy Rice Perfect for soaking up the sauce.
  • 1 loaf Crusty Bread For mopping up sauce.

Equipment

  • Oven-safe casserole dish
  • skillet
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and season chicken with salt.
  2. In a large casserole dish, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the chicken on all sides.
  3. Cook bacon lardons until crispy and then transfer to the chicken plate.
  4. Sauté chopped shallots and celery in remaining fat until softened; add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  5. Deglaze the pan with brandy or whiskey and simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle in flour, stir to combine, and gradually whisk in chicken stock until thickened.
  7. Add apple cider, chicken, and bacon into the mixture, stir, and bring to a gentle boil.
  8. Cover and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.
  9. Fry apple wedges in the reserved fat until golden brown.
  10. Stir in heavy cream and fried apple wedges before returning to the oven for an additional 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 35gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg

Notes

This casserole is perfect for fall evenings and tastes even better the next day as flavors meld over time.

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