Cosy up COMFORT DISHES
CREAMY CIDER CHICKEN CASSEROLE
TAKES 1 HR 15 MINS SERVES 4
2 chicken breasts, halved 4 chicken drumsticks, skin removed 25g butter 4 rashers streaky bacon, chopped 8 shallots, peeled 3 sticks celery, chopped 2 eating apples, cut into wedges 300ml cider or apple juice 500ml chicken stock 1tbsp thickening granules 100ml creme fraiche 2tbsp Dijon mustard 2tbsp tarragon
1 Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. Season the chicken. Melt the butter in a large, flameproof casserole dish and fry the chicken for 10 mins, turning to brown all over.
2 Add the bacon, shallots, celery and apples.
Cook for a few mins. Remove apples and add cider and stock. Bring to the boil, cover and cook in the oven for 40 mins until the chicken is tender.
3 Transfer to the hob and add the thickening granules and apple, creme fraiche, mustard and tarragon to the casserole. Bring to the boil, stir and simmer for 3 mins, until the sauce thickens. Serve with a side of mashed potato.
