Jacques Pepin’s Quick-Roasted Chicken with Mustard & Garlic

My mom roasted a lot of chicken seasoned with herbes de Provence during my childhood. This version also incorporated dijon mustard and was quite delicious. Splitting the chicken prior to roasting significantly reduced the cooking time.

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Jacques Pepin. I increased the amount of garlic and reduced the roasting temperature. We ate it with roasted potatoes and roasted broccoli- which I cooked simultaneously in the same oven. I also served it with sautéed kabocha squash. It was quite a feast! 🙂

Yield: Serves 6

• One 4 to 4 1/2-pound chicken
• 8 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 T Dijon mustard
• 2 T dry white or red wine
• 2 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 T soy sauce
• 1 tsp Tabasco (I used Chipotle Tabasco)
• 1 tsp herbes de Provence
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees on convection roast or 450 degrees in a standard oven.
2. Using poultry shears, cut along each side of the chicken backbone and remove it. Turn the chicken breast side up and press on the breast bone to flatten the chicken.
3. Using a sharp knife, cut partway through both sides of the joint between the thighs and the drumsticks. Cut partway through the joint between the wings and the breast.
4. In a bowl, mix all of the remaining ingredients.
5. Turn the chicken breast down and spread it with half of the mustard mixture.
6. Set the chicken in a large skillet skin side up; spread with the remaining mixture. (I put the chicken in a 9″x13″ pyrex dish and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours.)
7. Transfer the chicken and marinade to a large skillet, skin side up, and place over high heat. (I used a 12″ cast iron skillet.)
8. Cook the chicken until it starts to brown, 5 minutes.
9. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast the chicken for about 30 minutes, until the skin is browned and the chicken is cooked through. (I used the oven probe and roasted the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.)
10. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
11. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, cut it into 8 pieces and serve.

Note: The chicken can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated overnight.

Jacques Pepin’s Chicken in Mustard Sauce

One reason to welcome cooler weather is that it’s mustard chicken season! 🙂 This saucy dish is an absolute favorite in our house. I had to try Jacques Pepin’s version, of course. It was quick and elegant.

This recipe was adapted from the New York Times. I used chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts and reduced the cooking time. I will have to admit that next time I would make it with chicken thighs instead- just our personal preference.

We ate it with roasted potatoes and beets as well as Browned Butter Green Beans with Slivered Almonds. It would also be great with rice to soak up the sauce. Healthy and tasty.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 2 pounds of chicken breast tenders or boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ½ tsp coarse salt
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 T vegetable oil
• 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 2 T all-purpose flour
• 2 cups water
• 1 ½ tsp dry mustard
• 1 T Dijon mustard

1. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it is hot, brown the chicken for one minute on each side, just to brown.
3. Mix in the onion and continue cooking for one minute.
4. Sprinkle the flour on the chicken pieces, turning them so that all the pieces are coated. Cook one minute to lightly brown the flour.
5. Add the water and stir to dissolve the flour until the mixture comes to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the skillet and boil gently for 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove the meat to a serving platter and keep warm.
7. Cook the sauce to reduce it to about one-and-a-half cups.
8. Mix the dry mustard with the Dijon mustard and stir until smooth. Stir the mustard mixture into the sauce and heat, but do not allow the sauce to boil after the mustard has been added.
9. Place the chicken pieces in the sauce and warm over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes to develop the flavor.
10. Serve the chicken with the sauce.

Two Years Ago:

• Kale & Spinach Calzones

Three Years Ago:

• Chicken Parm Meatballs

Jacques Pepin’s Plum Galette

Galettes have the most fabulous presentation- and simple preparation. The best combination! 🙂 This buttery and flaky crust can be made in minutes, and this tart can be made with any seasonal fruit. It was amazing with a combination of red and black plums. This recipe was adapted from a staff-favorite Food and Wine recipe, contributed by Jacques Pépin.

I’m bringing it to my favorite weekly blog party, Fiesta Friday #33, at The Novice Gardener this week. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 8

For the Pate Brisee:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup ice water

For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground almonds
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 pounds large plums—halved, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch wedges (I used a combination of red & black plums)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small bits
• 1/2 cup good-quality plum, apricot or raspberry preserves, strained if chunky or seedy
• 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar

1. Make the Pate Brisee: Put the flour, butter and salt in a food processor and process for 5 seconds; the butter should still be in pieces. Add the ice water and process for 5 seconds longer, just until the dough comes together; the butter should still be visible.
2. Remove the dough from the processor and gather it into a ball. On a lightly floured surface or plastic wrap, roll out the dough into a 16-by-18-inch oval 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Drape the dough over the rolling pin and transfer it to a large, heavy baking sheet (I used a very large cutting board.). Chill the dough until firm, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400°(convection).
3. Transfer the chilled dough onto a large piece of parchment paper.
4. Make the Filling: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the sugar with the ground almonds and flour. Spread this mixture evenly over the dough to within 2 inches of the edge. Arrange the plum wedges on top in a circular pattern and dot with the butter. Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup sugar over the fruit. Fold the edge of the dough up over the plums to create a 2-inch border. (If the dough feels cold and firm, wait for a few minutes until it softens to prevent it from cracking.) Sprinkle the border with the teaspoon of turbinado sugar.
5. Transfer the tart, on the parchment paper, to a large, rimmed baking sheet. (I used a pizza peel for the transfer.)
6. Bake the galette in the middle of the oven for about 40 to 45 minutes (on convection) or up to 1 hour in a standard oven, until the fruit is very soft and the crust is richly browned. If any juices have leaked onto the baking sheet, slide a knife under the galette to release it from the sheet. Evenly brush the preserves over the hot fruit; brush some up onto the crust, too, if desired. Let the galette cool to room temperature before serving.

One Year Ago:

• Easy Peach Cobbler