Joe?s Back to School Chicken Casserole

Thu, 6 September 2018

1 tsp oil, (sunflower, rapeseed, up to you)

25g butter

8 pieces of chicken, (thighs, drumsticks )

1 medium red onion chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

100g chopped leek

100g diced carrot

200g pack small button or chestnut mushroom

2 tbsp tomato purée

2 thyme sprigs

700ml chicken stock

Method

Heat the oil and half the butter in a large lidded casserole.

Season the chicken, then fry for about 5 mins on each side until golden brown.

Remove and set aside.

Melt the rest of the butter in the pan.

Add the onion, then fry for about 5 mins until soft.

Add garlic, leek and carrot  cook for about 1 min, add the mushrooms, cook for 2 mins, then add roughly 200ml of the stock.

Stir in the tomato purée, let the liquid bubble and reduce for about 5 mins, then stir in the thyme and pour over the remaining  stock.

Place the chicken back into the pan, then cover and simmer on a low heat for about 1 hr until the chicken is very tender.

Remove the chicken from the pan and keep warm.

Rapidly boil down the sauce for 10 mins or so until it is syrupy and the flavour will have concentrated.

Put the chicken legs back into the sauce and serve.

Lovely with some  buttered mash potatoes.