Recipe of the week: Chicken fricassee

This is a hearty dish that’s low in calories and high in protein. A great choice for cold days!

Ingredients

1 x 2.5kg (5lb) chicken, cut into pieces
60ml/1oz olive oil
2 cloves of garlic – skin on
150g/5oz shallots – cut in half
125g/4oz mixed peppers – cut into large pieces
2 carrots – peeled and sliced
200g/7oz button mushrooms
600ml/1 pint brown chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Sprig of fresh thyme
6 peppercorns

Method

1. Heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.

2. Season the chicken, seal and colour quickly in oil.

3. Remove the chicken and place in a roasting pan with the bay leaf, peppercorns, fresh thyme and garlic cloves.

4. Sauté the vegetables together until they turn light brown. Put them in with the chicken.

5. Swill out the sauté pan with the chicken stock. Bring to the boil, season and add to the chicken.

6. Place into the oven until the chicken is cooked through.