Chicken with Braised Celery and Cider
Chicken with Braised Celery and Cider
Serves 4
Preparation time: 30 mins
Cooking time approx. 1½ hrs
Ingredients:
Small knob butter
2kg/4lb 8oz chicken
4 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, diced
Sprig thyme
2 celery hearts, quartered
150ml Merrydown Cider
300ml chicken stock
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO…
1.
Heat the oven to 190c/Fan 170c/Gas 5. heat the butter in a large casserole dish and brown the chicken slowly on all sides. This should take 10-15 mins. Be patient, it will pay off later.
2.
Remove the chicken, throw in the bacon and cook for 3-4 mins until starting to crisp.
3.
Add the onion, carrots and thyme and cooked for 4-5 minutes untl the vegetables soften.
4.
Stir the celery into the vegetables and nestle the chicken among them, breast side down.
5.
Pour over the cider and stock, bring to a simmer and roast the chicken uncovered for one hour.
6.
Turn the chicken right-way up and give it 30 mins more, by which point the legs should be coming away.
7. Carefully lift the chicken from the dish, check the seasoning of the vegetables and serve with the chicken.