Fricassée De Poule
This French chicken fricassée is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you've just stepped into a Parisian bistro, without leaving your kitchen. Tender chicken, silky sauce, and mushrooms, creamy, comforting, and oh-so-chic, it's a timeless dish that deserves a spot on your table. Try other one-pot dishes like Pot au Feu, and Coq au Vin.
A truly classic French chicken fricassée is so appetizing and quite easy to make at home for a family meal or entertaining.
🔢Instruction Notes
The meat is first seared and then slowly braised in liquid.
Although it has cream in it, you can leave it out if you prefer.
I like to enjoy it with the cream and then cut it down in other areas to have less fat.
It is all about portions, just don't overindulge and you will be fine!
Fricassée is a method of cooking meat by cutting it up, sautéeing and braising, and serving it with a sauce, traditionally a white sauce or commonly known as Bechamel Sauce with the French chef secret sauce maker, crème fraîche. Learn how to make crème fraîche.
Many cooking references describe fricassée simply as a French stew, usually with a white sauce. This dish is a traditional French beef stew recipe.
In 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' Julia Child and Simone Beck describe it as "halfway between a sauté and a stew" in that a sauté has no liquid added, while a stew includes liquid from the beginning.
In a fricassée, cut-up meat is first sautéed (but not browned), then liquid is added and it is simmered to finish cooking.
There are recipes for fricassée as far back as the earliest version of the medieval French cookbook Le Viandier, circa 1300. In 1490, it is first referred to specifically as "friquassee".
Chicken fricassée recipe is commonly found, both in modern recipes and antique ones, but virtually all kinds of meat, poultry, fish, and even vegetables alone, can be found in fricassée dishes.
📖 Recipe
Classic Chicken Fricassée Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb chicken cut into portions, 6 - 8, or use chicken thighs (Allow 2 per person)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 150 ml dry white wine ⅔ cup
- 300 ml chicken stock but have extra on hand in case it is needed
- 8 oz button mushrooms
- 16 onions small white
- Bouquet garni
- ½ teaspoon Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon double cream
- 2 tablespoon crème fraîche or double and omit cream, thinning with broth if needed
- 2 tablespoon parsley chopped to garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil and half the butter in a flameproof casserole dish.
- Add the chicken pieces and brown on all sides.
- Sprinkle with the flour, coating them all over.
- Cook over low heat for a few minutes.
- Pour in the wine and bring to a boil.
- Slowly add the chicken stock.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmering point.
- Add the bouquet garni and season to taste.
- Simmer for about 45 minutes until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear.
- In a separate pan, heat the remaining butter and cook the mushrooms with the lemon juice until they are golden brown.
- Put the mushrooms in a warm bowl and set aside.
- Add the onions, water, and sugar to the pan, mix well, and simmer until tender.
- Pour the onions into the bowl with the mushrooms.
- When your chicken fricassée is cooked, transfer to a warm serving dish and keep to one side.
- Add any vegetable juices from the pan (too nice to throw away - gives a good flavor!) to the casserole dish and bring to a boil stirring frequently.
- When the sauce is reduced, whisk in the cream and/or crème fraîche and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Finally, add the mushrooms and onions and cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Taste it at this stage and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve!
Notes
- apple Cider Vinegar (½ vinegar and ½ water)
- chicken or vegetable Broth
- apple Juice
- white Grape Juice
- white Wine Vinegar
- ginger Ale
- water
Tips
• Chicken: Use bone-in pieces for maximum flavor.• Wine: A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc works best.
• Mushrooms: Button mushrooms are classic, but cremini add depth.
• Crème fraîche: Optional, but it makes the sauce luxuriously French and it will not curdle.
Nutrition
Did you make this & like it, or not, let us know?!