French Coq au Vin with Root Vegetables

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 slices bacon chopped
• 2 cups red wine
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf bay leaf
• 2 cups pearl onions peeled
• 2 cups carrots cut into chunks
• 2 cups potatoes cut into chunks
• 1 cup mushrooms quartered
• to taste salt and pepper

Instructions

1. 1 Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. 2 Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then dredge them in flour, shaking off any excess.
3. 3 In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. 4 In the same pot, add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides. Remove the chicken and set aside.
5. 5 Add the garlic, pearl onions, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms to the pot. Sauté for about 5 minutes.
6. 6 Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the red wine and chicken stock. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
7. 7 Return the chicken and bacon to the pot. Add the thyme and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
8. 8 Cover the pot with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook for approximately 1.5 hours, or until the chicken is tender.
9. 9 Remove the pot from the oven. Discard the bay leaf, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.