Roast Chicken With Port Wine, Cream, Mushrooms
Description
This impressive main course features a whole roasted chicken with golden, crispy skin, accompanied by a luxurious sauce made from sautéed fresh mushrooms, heavy cream, and reduced port wine. The dish is finished with a dramatic tableside flambé using cognac, adding a warm, aromatic depth to the creamy mushroom gravy. The combination of savory chicken juices, earthy mushrooms, and sweet fortified wine creates a complex and comforting flavor profile. Perfect for special occasions, holiday dinners, or when you want to treat your family to a restaurant-quality meal at home.Ingredients
Directions
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Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C).
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Truss the chicken, dry the skin thoroughly, and rub all over with 1 tablespoon of butter.
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Place the chicken breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
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Roast for 5 minutes, then turn the chicken onto its left side and baste with butter. Roast for another 5 minutes.
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Turn the chicken onto its right side, baste with butter, and roast for 5 minutes.
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Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Leave chicken on its right side and roast for 15-20 minutes, basting every 10 minutes.
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Salt the chicken, turn it onto its other side, and roast for another 15-20 minutes, basting every 20 minutes.
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Turn the chicken breast-side up and baste every 10 minutes during the final roasting period until done.
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Check for doneness by pricking the thickest part of the drumstick; juices should run clear yellow. If not, roast 5 minutes longer.
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Transfer chicken to a warm platter, remove trussing string, and let rest for 10-30 minutes, loosely covered with foil.
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While chicken roasts, wipe mushrooms clean with a paper towel. Trim ends and slice if large; leave small ones whole.
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In a saucepan, bring 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tablespoon butter, lemon juice, and salt to a boil.
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Add mushrooms, cover, and cook for 8 minutes. Drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
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In a clean pan, combine heavy cream and the cornstarch mixture. Add the cooked mushrooms and simmer for 2 minutes. Set aside.
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When chicken is done, remove it from the roasting pan. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
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Add minced shallots to the hot roasting pan and sauté for 1 minute.
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Add port wine and reserved mushroom cooking liquid. Deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits, and reduce liquid until it measures about 1/4 cup.
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Stir the mushroom and cream mixture back into the roasting pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
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Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lemon juice if needed.
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Butter the inside of a heat-proof casserole dish. Carve the chicken into serving pieces and sprinkle lightly with salt.
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Arrange chicken pieces in the casserole.
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Warm the cognac carefully in a small ladle or cup until hot but not boiling.
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Place the casserole over moderate heat until the chicken sizzles. Carefully pour the warm cognac over the chicken.
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Ignite the cognac with a long match. Shake the casserole gently until the flames subside.
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Pour the hot mushroom sauce over the chicken, basting well.
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Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Do not let the sauce boil.
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Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8 servings
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 1063.5kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 64.3g99%
- Saturated Fat 25.4g127%
- Cholesterol 373.1mg125%
- Sodium 1521.1mg64%
- Total Carbohydrate 7.0g3%
- Dietary Fiber 1.1g5%
- Sugars 3.8g
- Protein 96.7g194%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.