Chicken Stew

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Brown chicken on both sides until light golden, sprinkling with salt and pepper. Remove from pot. (Do in 2 batches if pot not big enough).

Step 3

If there's too much oil in the pot, discard some. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent.

Step 4

Add carrots and celery, cook for 1 minute.

Step 5

Add wine. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to dissolve the brown bits into the liquid. Cook for 1 minute until liquid is mostly gone.

Step 6

Sprinkle flour across surface, stir.

Step 7

Add broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and bay leaves. Stir to dissolve tomato paste.

Step 8

Place chicken on top, keeping the skin above the liquid level as much as you can.

Step 9

Bring to simmer then cover. Bake for 45 minutes.

Step 10

Remove from oven, remove lid. Add potatoes, pushing them into the liquid and rearranging chicken so they sit on top (for lovely crispy skin).

Step 11

Return to oven without the lid for a further 40 minutes until the chicken skin is deep golden and super crispy, the potatoes are soft and the sauce is thickened.

Step 12

Taste sauce and adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Step 13

Serve with warm crusty bread on the side to dunk in the sauce - or go all the way with Garlic Bread! Optional: garnish with extra fresh thyme leaves or parsley.