Vinegar-braised chicken with herby polenta

Vinegar-braised chicken with herby polenta

This piquant vinegar chicken is a classic dish from the French city of Lyon. While it does mellow during cooking, the sauce is quite sharp, but the rich and creamy polenta balances it out perfectly.

Vinegar-braised chicken with herby polenta

How about easy tarragon chicken for your next French-inspired chicken dinner?

  • Serves icon Serves 2
  • Time icon Hands-on time 35 min

This piquant vinegar chicken is a classic dish from the French city of Lyon. While it does mellow during cooking, the sauce is quite sharp, but the rich and creamy polenta balances it out perfectly.

How about easy tarragon chicken for your next French-inspired chicken dinner?

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
988kcals
Fat
59g (25g saturated)
Protein
46g
Carbohydrates
52g (15g sugars)
Fibre
3.4g
Salt
1.2g

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 anchovy fillets in oil, roughly chopped (optional)
  • 4 chicken thighs, skin-on
  • 4 banana shallots, finely sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • 4 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
  • 250ml malt vinegar
  • 250ml dry cider
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 2 tbsp double cream

For the polenta

  • 250ml whole milk
  • 100g quick-cook polenta
  • 30g salted butter
  • 25g parmesan, finely grated
  • 20g chopped mixed soft herbs (all or a mix basil, parsley, chives, tarragon)
Sticky screen? No thanks! Tap to prevent your screen from going off while cooking.

Method

  1. Put a large high sided frying pan over a high heat and add the oil and anchovies (if using). Once melted, add the chicken thighs skin-side down to one side of the pan and the shallots and garlic to the other. Cook for around 8 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden. Stir the shallots often until soft.
  2. Flip the chicken, then add the thyme leaves, vinegar, cider, sugar and mustard and simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced a little. Stir in the cream and simmer for 5 more minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, make the polenta. Heat the milk and 200g water in a pan, then whisk in the polenta for a few minutes. Beat in the butter, parmesan and herbs, then taste and season both the polenta and chicken with salt and pepper. Divide between bowls and top with the sauce and chicken thighs.

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving
Calories
988kcals
Fat
59g (25g saturated)
Protein
46g
Carbohydrates
52g (15g sugars)
Fibre
3.4g
Salt
1.2g

delicious. tips

  1. The polenta firms up quickly once it cools so it’s best to make it just before serving.

Buy ingredients online

Recipe By:

Pollyanna Coupland
Food producer, delicious.

Subscribe

Fancy getting a copy in print?

Subscribe to our magazine

Rate & review

Rate

Reviews

Share a tip

Or, how about...?

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Vinegar chicken

Debbie Major’s vinegar chicken recipe is made with garlic, dry...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Chicken breast recipes

Quick tarragon chicken with crispy potatoes

A quick and easy midweek meal made with chicken, a...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Midweek meal recipes

Herby haddock with salt and vinegar mash and curry mayo

This quick fish dinner has serious chip shop vibes. The...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Seared steak and rocket salad

This is based on a recipe by David Eyre of...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Traybake recipes

Orange and tarragon chicken traybake

We’ve transformed chicken breasts with a pack of cream cheese,...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Chicken thigh recipes

Honey mustard chicken and parsnips

Honey and mustard pair perfectly with both parsnips and chicken...

Subscribe to our magazine

Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.

Subscribe

Unleash your inner chef

Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter

We treat your data with care. See our privacy policy. By signing up, you are agreeing to delicious.’ terms and conditions. Unsubscribe at any time.