Chicken Normandy (Chicken Legs Braised in Apple Cider & Brandy)

Step 1

Fry the apples:  Peel, quarter, remove seeds and slice the apples. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet, add the apples in one layer and fry them until golden brown, flipping a few times. Once cooked on both sides, remove apple slices and set them aside (about 5-7 minutes)

Step 2

Sear the Chicken: To the same skillet add another 2 tablespoons of butter; season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and sprinkle with flour. Sear the chicken on the hot pan for 5-7 minutes on each side until the skin is crispy and golden brown. Then remove the chicken from a pan and set aside.

Step 3

Prepare the braising liquid: Preheat the oven to 375ºF. To the same pan add sliced onions. Sauté the onions on medium heat for approximately 5-7, add garlic and dry thyme and cook for another minute. Deglaze the pan with brandy and cook until half of it has evaporated, then add apple cider (cloudy apple juicer) and cook for about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Braise the chicken: Add the chicken (skin side up) back to the skillet, cover the pan and move to the hot oven. Bake the chicken for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the pan from the oven using heavy-duty oven mittens.

Step 5

Finish up the sauce: Remove your chicken onto a plate and finish up the sauce. First, add heavy cream and then Dijon mustard and mix well. Cook it for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens out. Add fried apples, fresh thyme, and chicken back to the skillet (to soak up some of the sauce).

Step 6

Serve: To serve place the sauce onto the plate, make sure each plate has onions, apples, and enough sauce to dunk in. Place a chicken leg on top of the sauce and serve. Enjoy!