Chicken Skewers with Espagnole Sauce

Ingredients

For the espagnole sauce:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon chopped carrot
• 1 small clove garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon dry red wine
• 2 cups rich brown beef, veal or chicken stock, hot
• 1 tablespoon toasted instant flour (recommended: Wondra)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• A sachet d'epices containing: 1 sprig parsley, 1 sprig thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 black peppercorn

For the chicken skewers:

• 1 liter vegetable or canola oil (if deep-frying)
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour (if deep-frying)
• 6 boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

Directions

Special equipment: bamboo skewers

For the sauce:

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and saute scallions, celery, carrot, and garlic over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables have caramelized lightly. Add the red wine and beef stock and bring to a simmer.

In a stainless steel mixing bowl, whisk together the toasted flour and butter, add the tomato paste, then gradually ladle in the hot stock, whisking as you go to make a smooth sauce. Add the sachet d'epices of parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and peppercorn, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 50 minutes. Skim any impurities off the surface.

Heat oil to 350 degrees F in a deep-fryer.

Mix the chili powder, salt and garlic powder in a shallow bowl and stir in flour. Skewer chunks of chicken using bamboo skewers which have been pre-soaked in water, and dip chicken into warm water, then coat with seasoned flour. Fry until cooked through (about 6 minutes) and serve with Espagnole sauce. (Alternatively, these can be grilled by eliminating the flour and dipping the moistened skewered chicken into the mixed seasonings, then grilling until cooked through.)