Classic Chicken in Vinegar
A classic, French country recipe. The braising of chicken in vinegar helps tenderize as well as providing a delicious tang.
Ready
- 1 frying chicken (4-4 ½ lb), cut into 8 pieces
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- ¼ cup (½ stick butter), divided into 2 –2 Tbsp
- ½ cup red-wine vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tsp chopped fresh tarragon
Set
- Large iron skillet (preferred) or other large skillet with cover
- Serving platter
- Whisk or fork
Go
- Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Melt 2 Tbsp of butter in skillet over medium heat.
- Add chicken pieces beginning, skin side down.
- Cook, turning pieces until golden brown (about 10-15 minutes).
- Add ¼ cup of vinegar and water to skillet: cover.
- Cook for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Transfer chicken to platter.
- Add garlic and cook about 1 minute.
- Deglaze skillet with remaining ¼ cup vinegar.
- Increase heat to medium high.
- Bring to a boil and scrape pan for browned bits.
- Stir in tomato paste. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove pan from heat and whisk in 1 Tbsp at a time, the remaining 2 Tbsp butter.
- Pour over chicken and sprinkle with parsley and tarragon.
Anyone who likes this recipe as much as I do should be sure to try Marc’s Filipino Humba which is another delicious vinegar based dish.
This was really good and really easy. Thank you.
OH MY GOSH … was this good. I served this with some rice which turned out to be a real bonus as you can spoon the excess sauce over the rice.
I made one happy mistake which was to pour all the red wine vinegar in step four and then had to add even more vinegar in step 9. Next time I will do it the same way as I really loved that vinegary taste!
Great recipe John. It’s truly delicious. The only problem now is that it’s going to be tough to choose a good ol’ fashioned roast over this gorgeous dish (a roast being one of my comfort foods)!
Great recipe. Quick and easy. Everyone love this vinegar chicken.
Best chicken recipe ever! Perfect for a cold winter evening.
I was a ambivalent about this recipe, but after reading the comments I decided to give it a try. This vinegar chicken recipe is really really good. We now have a new family favorite.
I served it with wild rice made with chicken stock.
I made this last night for my family and the strangest thing happened — silence. My four-year-old who has just come out of the terrible threes and entered the terrible fours stopped grousing, whining and complaining. She was too busy eating. My fourteen-month-old stopped throwing food on the carpet and instead threw it in her mouth. My wife gobbled and I smiled.
Make this for your family and enjoy the silence. It doesn’t last long.