SLOW COOKER COQ AU VIN RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over high heat, boil the wine until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Place the parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs and bay leaf against the cut side of the halved leek and tie with kitchen twine. Set aside.
• Preheat a Cuisinart multicooker on the brown/sauté setting to 350°F. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Discard all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the insert. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to 450°F. Working in batches, brown the chicken, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate.
• Discard all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the insert. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Melt the butter in the insert. Add the garlic, tomato paste and flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in the reduced wine and the broth and bring to a simmer. Add the bacon, chicken, mushroom mixture, carrots and bouquet garni. Set the multicooker on the slow cook-high setting, cover and cook until the chicken is fork-tender, about 2 hours.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate. Skim the fat off the sauce. Set the multicooker on the brown/sauté setting to 400°F. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Discard the bouquet garni and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Return the chicken to the insert. Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
• Adapted from <i>Canal House Cooking</i>, Vol. 2, by Christopher Hirsheimer &amp; Melissa Hamilton.

Steps:

• Put the shallots, carrots and celery into a slow cooker, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fry the lardons in a large frying pan over a low heat for 10 minutes until crisp, golden and the fat has run from the meat. Remove from the pan and tip most of the fat into a heatproof bowl.
• Meanwhile, put the flour into a food bag or bowl, season with salt and freshly ground pepper, then toss the chicken pieces in the flour to coat.
• Fry the floured chicken in the residual bacon fat until golden-brown, about five minutes each side. Put the chicken on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker and scatter with the lardons, bay leaf and thyme sprigs.
• Add a little more fat to the pan if needed, then add the garlic and tomato purée. Cook for a minute, then add the wine and bring to the boil for two minutes. Add the stock, return to the boil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then pour over the meat and vegetables. Cover with the lid then cook on low for six hours, until the chicken is very tender.
• Just before serving, heat a little fat in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms over a high heat, until golden-brown. Scatter over the chicken and serve.