Ben’s Kitchen: Braised chicken with apples, bacon, & Angullong ‘Fossil Hill ‘Chardonnay

4 large chicken thighs,

bone in, skin on

30 ml vegetable oil

1 medium onion

1 large carrot

2 rashers bacon

2 cloves garlic - peeled

1 tbsp. wholegrain mustard

150 ml chicken stock (or water)

100 ml Angullong Chardonnay

4 sprigs fresh thyme

2 bay leaves – fresh or dried

2 red apples

100 ml pure cream

½ bunch flat leaf parsley

Salt & pepper to taste


Pre-heat oven to 180°C.

• Core and cut apples into wedges (leaving skin on), slice the carrot and onion finely, crush the garlic and roughly chop the parsley. Dice the bacon.

• Heat 20 ml vegetable oil in a large heavy based frypan and cook the onion on medium heat for 3 mins until starting to soften, then add the garlic, carrots and bacon and cook a further 3-5 mins until onion becomes translucent. Remove from the pan and set aside.

• Sauté apples until starting to golden around edges, then remove and add to the vegetables.

• Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add the remaining vegetable oil to the pan and fry the chicken on both sides until golden. Remove from the pan.

• Deglaze pan with the chardonnay, then add the apple and vegetables to the pan.

• Add the mustard, thyme, bay leaves, and stock and bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer.

• Return the chicken to the pan and place in the oven.

• Cook approx. 30-35 min., until chicken is golden, and the liquid has reduced by at least a quarter.

• Remove the chicken onto a plate, cover lightly with foil or a lid to keep warm.

• Add the cream to frypan and bring back to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and reduce for approx. 5 minutes until the sauces thickens.

• Season to taste and add chopped parsley and return the chicken to the pan.

• Serve with steamed greens, potatoes, pasta, or rice.

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