Chicken Braised in Red Wine and Plums

Name: Chicken Braised in Red Wine and Plums
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 8 chicken drumsticks (about 3 lbs) seasoned with plenty of sea salt on all sides; 4 Tbs of olive oil; 1 cup red wine; 1 cup chicken broth; 12 Italian plums pitted and cut in half (if using regular plums use 6 as they are larger); 2 Tbs tomato paste; 3 Tbs homemade or store bought plum jam (if this is too hard to find grape jelly will do); 1 shallot, chopped; 1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped; 2 Tbs crushed garlic; 2 Tbs fresh rosemary, finely chopped; salt to taste

by Elena @mamamiammangia__

6 servings

1 hr

Winner-Winner Chicken Dinner

This chicken dinner is simple for a weeknight meal and special for a weekend gathering meal. With a few quality ingredients you will have a delicious and flavorful dinner. These chicken drum sticks braised in wine, rosemary, and plums will elevate your ordinary chicken meal. Another plus is chicken drumsticks are fairly inexpensive, and if you use a just-good-enough wine you won’t break the bank! This is a simplified version of the Italian “chicken cacciatore” with a few less steps to make this a weekly menu repeat! Once it try it, you will want to share it at your next dinner gathering to impress your guests.

Braised Chicken

Braising is a simple technique were you lightly fry your meat before letting it cook, or “stew” in liquid (generally wine or broth), in a covered dish until it is fully cooked. The first part to braising involves lightly frying the seasoned chicken pieces in batches-about 5 minutes a side. This allows the chicken to brown nicely and not fully cook. Set aside on a plate until needed. This process requires only one pot and the result is an incredibly delicious chicken that is both crispy, tender and succulent. After the drumsticks simmer in the rosemary-infused wine sauce they will achieve a rich and complex flavor unique to the braising process.

Red Wine and Plums

The liquid in this braising recipe uses a combination of red wine and chicken broth. The flavor of the wine and the juice from the sweet plums is a match made in culinary heaven that makes this dish unique. The sauce turns into a thick, rich, flavorful combination that is perfect for bread plunging. After braising the chicken for about 45 minutes, the liquid reduces and thickens. This method will create the perfect consistency and maximize the flavor of the chicken and sauce. Before serving I put the pot in the oven and broil for 5 minutes to achieve a perfect crisp on the chicken. Super Scrumptious.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce that clings to the tender chicken. I serve this meal with a side salad and also made rice for my children. The rice is a great addition for a heartier meal and works perfect to absorb the sauce.

Made with Amore,

Elena

Savory and delicious sauce!

Most comforting meal!

Enjoy with the ones you love.

Chicken Braised in Red Wine and Plums

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Recipe details

Yield 6 servings
Time spent: Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 45 Minutes Total time: 1 hr

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% Daily value

Ingredients

8 chicken drumsticks (about 3 lbs) seasoned with plenty of sea salt on all sides
4 Tbs of olive oil
1 cup red wine
1 cup chicken broth
12 Italian plums pitted and cut in half (if using regular plums use 6 as they are larger)
2 Tbs tomato paste
3 Tbs homemade or store bought plum jam (if this is too hard to find grape jelly will do)
1 shallot, chopped
1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbs crushed garlic
2 Tbs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
salt to taste

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl add the wine, chicken broth, plum jam, and tomato paste. stir until combined and set aside.
Heat a large pot or sauté pan to medium-high heat, warm the oil. Cook the chicken (already salted) until golden brown on all sides, turning the chicken often so that it browns evenly, 5 minutes per side. Set the drumsticks aside on a plate.
In the pot: add the garlic, onion, and rosemary. Reduce the heat slightly, and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 3 minutes.
Add the plums and cook an additions 3 minutes. Pour in the liquid mixture from step 1 over the top.
Place the drumstick back in the pot. Do not submerge the chicken completely. Cover with lid, leaving a slight vent, and simmer on low-medium heat for 45 minutes.
Sit back and enjoy the delicious aroma of your meal simmering in the pot.
Before serving broil the chicken in the oven for 5 minutes to get the chicken skin extra crisp!

Comments

Carolyn Wright on Oct 05, 2020

For the ingredients say 8 thighs than you read instructions and it says drumsticks .......

6 Reply
- See 1 previous
- Sheila on Oct 06, 2020
  
  Pictures all show drumsticks too.
  
  Like
- Elena @mamamiammangia__ on Oct 06, 2020
  
  You can use either! I will change it so it is not as confusing. Thanks so much!
  
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SnowKnitty on Oct 18, 2020

I am fortunate to have a lovely Italian plum tree and having been making this recipe for some time now. We serve it with a crusty baguette and a Pinot Noir that is on the fruitier side.
We've found that many people are sensitive to too much sweetness in this dish. So I advise you add limited amounts of jam and taste for sweetness before adding more jam. If you cannot find plum jam, I advise you look for alternatives like elderberry or black current. (For me, grape tends to overwhelm the taste of the plums and I wouldn't recommend it.) If you are fond of rosemary, use more of it! (I use double the amount in this recipe.)
Also, I skip the last step in this recipe and do not broil the cooked chicken. By then, the skin tends to have come loose in places and exposes the chicken meat. If you see that has happened, broiling it will dry out the exposed meat.

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- Elena @mamamiammangia__ on Oct 18, 2020
  
  So happy you love this recipe! I don't like things too sweet and sometimes I leave out the jam all together. My family loves it with the jam. It's all preference. Visit my website if you want more Italian recipes: https://www.mamamiamangia.com/. Feel free to leave comments there as well.
  Elena
  
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