Red Wine Braised Chicken and Plums Recipe

Winner-Winner Chicken Dinner

This chicken dinner is simple for a weeknight meal and special for a weekend gathering meal. With a few quality ingredients you will have a delicious and flavorful dinner. These chicken drum sticks braised in wine, rosemary, and plums will elevate your ordinary chicken meal. Another plus is chicken drumsticks are fairly inexpensive, and if you use a just-good-enough wine you won't break the bank! This is a simplified version of the Italian "chicken cacciatore" with a few less steps to make this a weekly menu repeat! Once it try it, you will want to share it at your next dinner gathering to impress your guests.

Simple Ingredients

The best recipes start with fresh and simple ingredients! Here is all you need for this delicious meal:

• chicken drumsticks
• olive oil
• red wine
• chicken broth
• Italian plums
• tomato paste
• plum jam (if this is too hard to find grape jelly will do)
• shallot
• yellow onion
• garlic
• rosemary
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• salt to taste

Braised Chicken

Braising is a simple technique were you lightly fry your meat before letting it cook, or “stew” in liquid (generally wine or broth), in a covered dish until it is fully cooked. The first part to braising involves lightly frying the seasoned chicken pieces in batches-about 5 minutes a side. This allows the chicken to brown nicely and not fully cook. Set aside on a plate until needed. This process requires only one pot and the result is an incredibly delicious chicken that is both crispy, tender and succulent. After the drumsticks simmer in the rosemary-infused wine sauce they will achieve a rich and complex flavor unique to the braising process.

Chicken, Red Wine, and Plums

The liquid in this braising recipe uses a combination of red wine and chicken broth. The flavor of the wine and the juice from the sweet plums is a match made in culinary heaven that makes this dish unique. The sauce turns into a thick, rich, flavorful combination that is perfect for bread plunging. After braising the chicken for about 45 minutes, the liquid reduces and thickens. This method will create the perfect consistency and maximize the flavor of the chicken and sauce. Before serving I put the pot in the oven and broil for 5 minutes to achieve a perfect crisp on the chicken. Super Scrumptious.

Plum Varieties

The recipe suggests "Italian plums" this plum variety is longer in shape, more tart in taste, and smaller than the typically round and larger plum variety. Any plum variety will work for this recipe. Make sure the plums aren't too ripe or mushy or they will completely dissolve in the sauce.

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