Wine-Braised Chicken with Apricots
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 4 servings
- Total: 2 hr 40 min
- Active: 20 min
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 chicken hind quarters
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cloves garlic, peeled
4 carrots, cut into large chunks
2 red onions, cut into quarters
2 cups dry white wine (any kind)
2 cups chicken stock
16 dried apricots
4 sprigs rosemary
Cheese Grits, recipe follows
Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Cheese Grits:
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup quick grits
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
4 ounces cream cheese
2 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Add the olive oil to a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, place the chicken pieces skin-side down in a single layer in the pot. Cook on both sides, turning several times, until the skin is browned, about 4 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Add the garlic, carrot chunks and onion quarters, followed by the wine, stock, apricots and rosemary. Stir together, then return the chicken to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover and braise in the oven until the chicken and vegetables are tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
- Serve the chicken over Cheese Grits with the onions, carrots, garlic and apricots, making sure to get a spoonful or two of the cooking liquid. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Cheese Grits:
- Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly stir in the grits, then return to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Turn down the heat to low and stir in the Cheddar and cream cheese. Cook until the Cheddar is melted and the cream cheese is incorporated into the mixture, another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter and keep warm until ready to serve.