Coq au Vin

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 4 chicken legs
• 2 cups full-bodied red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 8 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 10 white pearl onions, blanched and peeled
• 1/2 pound small cremini mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Cognac
• 5 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 ounce chicken liver, coarsely chopped
• Mashed potatoes, for serving (optional)
• Flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. 1
   Place chicken in a large bowl, and add wine. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
2. 2
   Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. 3
   Remove chicken from wine, and pat dry; reserve wine. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
4. 4
   Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat until crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate, leaving drippings in pot. (You should have 3 tablespoons; you may need to add oil.)
5. 5
   Raise heat to medium-high. Working in batches, cook chicken, flipping once, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add chopped onion to pot, and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes. Add pearl onions and mushrooms, and cook until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and flour, and cook 2 minutes. Add Cognac, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
6. 6
   Return bacon and chicken to pot. Add thyme and bay leaves. Strain reserved wine and add along with the chicken livers. Bring to a simmer. Cover, and place in oven until chicken has cooked through and vegetables are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Discard herbs, and skim fat from surface.
7. 7
   Serve over mashed potatoes, if desired, and garnish with parsley.