Coq au vin, cordon blue, cassoulet: if the words themselves are delicious to say, then these classic comfort-food dishes are even better. Leave it to the French to raise the lowly chicken to sublime heights. You may rely on boneless chicken breasts for your weeknight dinners, those versatile and easy-to-prepare workhorses of family meals everywhere. But come the weekend, why not bring a little romance back into the kitchen?

Nothing has quite the seductive power of a succulent coq au vin, with it’s wine-soaked chicken and rich, creamy mushroom sauce. Or what about the classic chicken cordon bleu, how the ham and melted Gruyere combine to melt your heart just a little at every bite? And we can’t think of a better way to pass a blustery Saturday night than by staying in and cozying up with a good bottle of Bordeaux and a surprisingly simple chicken cassoulet stew (cuing up Yves Montand on Pandora is entirely up to you).

Coq Au Vin

Flambéing the chicken with brandy adds some excitement to the process, but it’s the long simmer in red wine that really will make this chicken knock your socks off. Make sure to have some good French bread on hand to sop up the delicious sauce. A simple side of carrots and green beans would round it out nicely.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Japanese-style panko bread crumbs give this classic French dish some extra crunch, which makes for a tasty contrast to the melty cheese at the heart of cordon bleu. Roasted new potatoes are an excellent accompaniment.

Chicken Cassoulet Stew

Traditional French cassoulet is easily a one- (or two-) day event, but by making smart use of a rotisserie chicken, sweet Italian sausage and canned beans, you can enjoy a hearty version of the French classic in a mere fraction of the time.

How do you say “chicken” in French? Delish! Check out more French chicken recipes!

You might also like:

Around the World in 10 Boneless Chicken Breast Recipes

Categories: Dinner Tonight | Tags: Chicken, Dinner, French Cuisine, Romantic Dinners, Rotisserie Chicken
No Comments | Post Your Comment