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Coq Au Vin

post #1 of 38
Thread Starter 
I am thinking of buying one of those gnarly, overgrown "oven stuffer roaster" chickens, you know, five or six pounds, tough as jerky (and about as cheap) and braising it. Can't get rooster or capon around here, that I know of.

Any good recipes beyond the basics? Child is the best I have found so far.
post #2 of 38
Can't offer anything on the recipe front but what about a hen, Murray's and Bell and Evans offer them and you should have a place nearby that carries them. You could also get something from D'Artaganan.
post #3 of 38
You can find Capon in NYC. Restaurants have them. It just might not be worth the effort/cost.
post #4 of 38
this is not traditional, but it is very, very good.

handful of pinenuts
handful of shelled pistatios
handful of chopped sun dried tomatos
large union, chopped
1 each green red yellow peppers, and tomato, chopped

brown the above in oil (I put about half of the oil olive oil, even though it smokes relativly low, I like the flavor and don't let this get too hot), in a very large pan that is at least 3 inches deep. chop up your chicken and put it on top of the vegitables to brown. flip as needed. when brown, start pouring in wine and beef broth, in equal parts, until you cover up about halfway up the chicken. lower the heat to a simmer. as the liquid boils off, keep adding more or less one bottle and a similar amount of broth. cook until the meat pretty much falls apart.

I add a small container of turkish salad to this as it is cooking (available where humous is sold, usually).
post #5 of 38
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmorel View Post
Can't offer anything on the recipe front but what about a hen, Murray's and Bell and Evans offer them and you should have a place nearby that carries them. You could also get something from D'Artaganan.

I can get great hens, but coq au vin is a recipe designed for bad birds. I'd rather just roast a hen. Or butcher it and pan roast it.
post #6 of 38
You could probably find a rooster at an Asian poultry place. It might be alive, though.
post #7 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manton View Post
tough as jerky (and about as cheap) and braising it.

In all seriousness, why would you want to buy a tough chicken? Why not just a smaller tender one?
post #8 of 38
The bird is of prime importance ( it should have lived outside, and rooted around, at the very least). I find the wine reduction marinade a good tip, a la Raymond Blanc. https://www.johnlewis.com/Extras/Content.aspx?Id=117 Leon
post #9 of 38
Thread Starter 
If butchering yourself (which I intend to do), would you leave the rib bones on the breast? The thigh bone in?

Machonnez or not?
post #10 of 38
Bones in. Eke every bit of goodness out of the cockerel. Leon
post #11 of 38
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy View Post
In all seriousness, why would you want to buy a tough chicken? Why not just a smaller tender one?

Because it is a recipe desinged for cheap birds. I don't want to waste a good bird. I want to see if I can take a bad bird and make it good.
post #12 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeonM View Post
Bones in. Eke every bit of goodness out of the cockerel.

Leon

+1 and you don't want the breast falling apart in the braise
post #13 of 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manton View Post
I am thinking of buying one of those gnarly, overgrown "oven stuffer roaster" chickens, you know, five or six pounds, tough as jerky (and about as cheap) and braising it. Can't get rooster or capon around here, that I know of.


i've tried this and it didn't work well for me. i found that the roaster bird had a different flavor that became very pronounced when braised. but to tell the truth, i haven't found a really good solution. jeff steingarten did a really funny piece a couple of years ago, where he realized that coq was an old male bird and then went about trying to acquire one (don't remember how that worked out). the best solution i've found isn't really coq au vin but more like poulet au vin that is improved by reducing the wine with aromatics before marinating, then braised just long enough for the meat to fall from the bones (about an hour, usually).

you might also check bouchon because i'm sure keller has a twist.
post #14 of 38
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodguy View Post
you might also check bouchon because i'm sure keller has a twist.

First place I looked, no dice.
post #15 of 38
i'm at my office so i dont' have the full library ... but my first guess would be Patricia Wells ... something like "Bistro Cooking" ... or I seem to recall one in "simple french food". if you don't already have them, i know you'll really love them ... particularly simple ... her collaboration with robuchon.
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