Chicken and Red Wine Casserole : The Mary Berry Way

This lovely recipe idea comes from Mary Berry. She has been teaching the nation (UK) to cook for over four decades and is the author of over 80 books.

Mary is Cordon-Bleu trained and an experienced magazine cookery editor as well as a seasoned television presenter. In 2009 she was awarded the highly coveted Guild of Food Writers Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2012 she was made a CBE for her services to culinary arts. Mary was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting, the culinary arts and charity. Mary's mission, is to get everyone baking and cooking at home.

Ingredients

Serves Six
400g/14oz baby shallots, peeled
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 small bunch fresh thyme
4 bay leaves
600ml/20fl oz red wine
6 small skinless and boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
75g/2¾oz butter
3 tbsp plain flour
350g/12oz smoked streaky bacon, chopped into pieces
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp light muscovado sugar
400g/14oz button mushrooms, halved
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Put the shallots in a large bowl with the garlic, herbs and wine. Mix, then add the chicken breasts, season with salt and black pepper and marinate for at least 1 hour. When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3.
2. Sit a colander over a large saucepan and strain the marinated chicken, reserving the shallots, bay leaves and thyme. Dab the chicken with kitchen paper to dry it.
3. Heat the oil and 50g/1¾oz of the butter in a deep ovenproof frying pan or casserole dish. Add the chicken breasts and fry on a medium-high heat, for 5–10 minutes each side, or until browned all over – you may need to do this in batches. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, set the pan with the wine marinade over a high heat and boil, for 5–10 minutes, until the volume of liquid has reduced by a third. Add the flour to a bowl with 150ml/5fl oz water and whisk until smooth. Stir in a little of the hot wine, and add this mixture to the rest of the wine in the pan. Keep hot.
5. Add the bacon to the frying pan or casserole dish and fry over a high heat for about 10 minutes, or until browned. Add the reserved shallots and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, or until they start to soften.
6. Add the hot wine sauce and tomato purée to the frying pan or casserole dish with the sugar, reserved bay leaves, thyme, salt and black pepper and bring to a boil. Stir until thickened and add the browned chicken. Bring back to the boil, cover with a lid and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until cooked through.
7. Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a medium pan and fry the mushrooms over a medium heat for 5–10 minutes, or until just cooked. Add to the chicken casserole just before serving. Remove the bay leaves and thyme from the casserole and serve the casserole hot with mashed potato and shredded cabbage.
Recipe Tips
i) This dish can be made up to 3 days ahead, if covered and kept in the fridge.

ii) In a freezer-proof bag or container, this dish will keep in the freezer for up to a month.

iii) This recipe does contain potatoes, so may affect blood sugar levels. If you would like a lower carb alternative to potatoes you will find some suggestions here

Original recipe can be seen here

'Posh Roasted Vegetables - The Mary Berry Way'

You may have seen this popular vegetarian recipe suggestion from Mary before.

It is a different take on a classic ratatouille with the vegetables arranged prettily in a dish,

and you serve it in slices, see here

You may also like to see this post "Chicken Dishes; Three Popular Low Carb and Keto Suggestions" ... find it here

A variety of recipe ideas are within this blog, but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan