Braised Chicken a la Suzanne Goin–Delicious, actually better than that

It is no secret that I love Suzanne Goin and her approach to food.  She is a goddess full stop.  I met a fellow “Goin Groupie” Kelli Abrahamian at the last FBLA meeting.  It’s incredible how a shared sensibility can bring two strangers together and make them feel like long lost sisters.  That’s how I felt with Kelli as we waxed poetic about Suzanne and her food.  (Kelli also made some really tasty Armenian Cheese Boereg)

The first meeting of Goin Groupies discussed, among many other recipes, her braised chicken that I had made just last weekend.  Mz. Riz suggested that the recipe should be Sunday’s dinner.  Then I made it again.  Let me tell you the flavors are rich and deep helped by cumin, coriander and Goin’s favorite chile de arbol.  The preparation’s straight forward.  The result is tender, melt in your mouth chicken floating on a bed of caramelized onions and fennel that are sweeter than dessert.

Suzanne Goin’s Braised Chicken

• 6 chicken legs and 6 thighs
• 4 T coriander seeds toasted and coarsely ground
• 2 T cumin seeds toasted and coarsely ground
• 6 cloves garlic smashed
• 1 T fresh thyme
• 2 chile de arbol cdrumbled
• 1 T paprika (I used smoked)
• 2 T parsley
• 1 brown onion slice
• 2 bulbs fennel slice
• 4 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup San Marzano canned tomatoes (the remainder can be frozen to use next time, oh there will be a next time)
• 2 T balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 white wine
• 1/2 cup sherry
• 4 c chicken stock
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
• 

1. Place cumin, coriander, garlic, thyme, paprika, chile de arbol in large bowl and mix together.  Add chicken pieces.  Toss and really coat the chicken.
2. Place in large plastic bag and refrigerate for at least four hours, best if overnight.
3. Take chicken out of frig.
4. Slice onion and fennel.
5. Combine wine, sherry and balsamic.  Measure the tomatoes.
6. Heat a very large saute pan, let it get a little bit hotter.  Add olive oil swirl and let it heat up until it dances a bit in the pan.  Add chicken skin side down.  Cook until golden brown.  You might have to do this in two batches.  When chicken is golden brown on both sides place in braising dish/pan.
7. If you have a lot of fat, pour some out until you have about 2 T of oil in pan.  Turn the eat up and add onions and fennel.  You want to caramelize the veggies.  It will take 5-10 minutes.
8. Add tomatoes and keep stirring getting all the goodness off the bottom of the pan.
9. Add the vinegar/wine/sherry to the veggies and crank up the heat.  Reduce liquid to half.
10. Add 2 cups of chicken stock.  Bring to boil. (Keep the rest of the chicken stock handy in case you need more for the braising pan.
11. Pour the veggies into braising pan.  Lift the pieces up so the veggies are on the bottom and the chicken is nestled by the veggies.  If necessary heat up more chicken stock to raise the level of liquid.
12. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and foil.  This is an old kitchen trick.  The wrap doesn’t catch fire, it shrinks a bit but the foil doesn’t get eaten away by the acid from the tomatoes.  Trust me, it’s safe.  Mz. Riz doubted and is now a convert.
13. Bake in 325 oven for 1 1/-2 hours or until tested and the meat just falls off the bone.
14. Enjoy.