Braised Chicken Leg Quarters with Sunday Pan Gravy

I could probably eat this easy, every-day-recipe once a week and not regenerate into food fatigue. In fact, I made it four nights in a row! It's all about that rich and creamy pan gravy. Spoon it over mashed potatoes, rice, or a simple stuffing. Sop it up with a biscuit! Serve with a side of cranberries.

Prepare it a day ahead and pop it in the fridge. Bake the next day and you have a great meal befitting company. There is no need to saute the chicken, but do use a metal pan, not ceramic or glass, since you need to put the pan on the burner to create the gravy.

Leg quarters, consisting of a leg and a thigh, are the least expensive parts of the chicken. I can usually find a pack of three for about three dollars! That's a bargain! They also often come in ten-pound bags, but they are rarely uniform in size, so be wary.

This is more of a "process" than a recipe. I highly recommend Bell's Poultry Seasoning. I think it is the best out there. Do try to use the wine. It's easy enough to find a cheap bottle of white wine in any grocery store. You do not have to use cream. Evaporated milk would work just as well. I love Wondra flour for making any kind of gravy. If you do not have access, mix equal tablespoon parts butter and all-purpose flour. Add by the teaspoon until you reach the desired consistency of your sauce.

• 1 chicken leg quarter
• 1/2 red onion, diced (about two ounces)
• 1 thinly-sliced carrot (about one ounce)*
• 6 tablespoons chopped celery (about two ounces)
• Poultry seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, needles removed
• 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 medium clove garlic, thinly sliced
• Chicken stock
• Dry white wine
• Cream (2-4 tablespoons)
• Butter/olive oil
• 2-3 teaspoons Wondra flour** 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Liberally season the leg quarter well on both sides using poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Scatter the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic on the bottom of the pan. Place seasoned chicken on top. Drizzle with oil and put a few pats of butter on top. Surround with rosemary needles and thyme sprigs.

Pour in enough chicken stock to cover chicken by 1/4. Pour in enough wine so total liquid reaches about 1/2 the height of the chicken (not the height of the pan!).

Bake,  uncovered,  for 30 minutes. Liquids will have evaporated.  Add a bit more chicken stock to attain original level the of liquids. Return to the oven and continue to bake another 30 minutes or until the meat just begins to pull away from the bone on the leg. See photograph.

Remove from oven and place chicken on a plate and cover with foil. Remove the thyme and rosemary. Place the pan on stove over low heat.  Add a bit more stock followed by cream. Stir in Wondra flour until desired consistency is reached.


*If you prefer soft carrots, you may first want to microwave them for 30 seconds or so.
**The rule of thumb is one tablespoon thickener per one cup liquid.