Category: Main Dishes

Porc Sylvestre

Natalie Hanson

5 Tbsp of cooking oil
4 lb boneless roast of pork, tied
3 Tbsp of butter, 2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 medium onions, peeled
2 carrots, sliced
1/2 cup of brown stock
3 large cloves of garlic unpeeled
bouquet garni, salt

  • In a heavy oven proof heat the oil.
  • Brown the pork on all sides for about 15 minutes.
  • Preheat oven 375°F.
  • Remove the pork, discard the oil.
  • Clean the pot and melt the butter and oil in it.
  • Stir in the onions and carrots and brown them slightly.
  • Return the pork to the pot, add the stock, garlic and bouquet garni and bring to a simmer.
  • Add 1/4 tsp of salt, cover with a piece of wax paper and the lid.
  • Set into the lower third of the oven.
  • After 1/2 hour turn and baste the meat.
  • Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of salt and reduce the heat to 350°F.
  • Continue cooking, and basting every 1/2 hour, for 2-1/2 hours.

 Sylvestre filling

3 Tbsp of butter, 1 Tbsp of oil
4 Tbsp of shallots, minced
1-1/2 lb of mushrooms, minced and squeezed dry
1 cup of cream
salt and pepper

  • Sauté the shallots in the oil and butter for 2 minutes.
  • Then, add the mushrooms and cook, stirring constantly until dry.
  • Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Add the cream and reduce until the cream become a thick golden mixture, not runny.
  • Season well and set aside.

Sauce Mornay

3-1/2 cups milk
5 Tbsp of butter
8 Tbsp of flour
1/2 cup of swiss cheese, grated
salt, black pepper, nutmeg
1/2 cup of cream (optional)

  • Make a bechamel sauce.
  • Cool slightly and add the cheese.
  • Mix 1 1/2 cups of the sauce bit by bit to the mushrooms.
  • This sylvestre filling should be thick.

Final assembly

All this can be done a day or two in advance.

3/4 lb of prosciutto ham cut into pieces the size of the thickness of the roast
1/2 cup of brown stock
1/4 cup of swiss cheese, grated

  • Reserve 1 cup of the Mornay sauce for final cooking
  • When the pork is done, remove from the pot, cut the string.
  • Reserve the juices in a degreasing cup after straining to remove the vegetables and herbs.
  • Carve the pork in 1/3 inch thick slices (keep the shape of the roast).
  • In an oven proof platter start alternating each slice with the ham and about 2 Tbsp of filling per slice.
  • Use the Mornay sauce to “glue” the slices of ham to the pork.
  • Neatly fill in the gaps in the reconstituted roast with the remaining mushroom filling.
  • Remove the fat from the reserved juice, add the stock and deglaze the bottom of the pan by bringing the liquid to a boil.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Baste the pork with the cooking liquid.
  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and reheat in the preheated oven
  • Warm up the remaining 1 Cup of Mornay sauce.
  • Coat the pork with it and sprinkle with the cheese.
  • Turn the oven up to 375°F.
  • Set in the upper level of the oven until the top is lightly browned.
  • If the pork has to wait, leave it in the oven with the heat turned off.
  • If you have some left over reheat the same way but with some additional Mornay sauce.

Porc braisé sauce Madère

Natalie Hanson

For about 6 people.  A good vegetable dish to accompany this pork recipe is peas and carrots parisian style (below).

2 tenderloin pork roast
2 Tbsp of vegetable oil
3 Tbsp of butter
1 large onion
2 carrots
1 Tb of herbes de Provence
1/2 cup of Madeira wine
Stock, about a cup (chicken or veal)

  • In a large skillet, brown the pork well on all sides.
  • Discard the oil.
  • Reduce the heat.
  • Put the roast back in the skillet with 3 Tbsp of butter.
  • Slightly brown one large onion, sliced, around the meat.
  • Add 2 carrots, thinly cut, and sprinkle the Herbes de Provence on top of it all.
  • Add 1/2 cup of Madeira wine and 1/2 cup of stock to the pan.
  • Cook gently, on top of the stove, for about 1/2 hour adding some stock as needed.

It was established as far back as 1919 that trichina are killed at a meat temperature of 131°F (137°F for official purposes).  In view of this fact there is no reason whatsoever for overcooking pork until it’s dry and lifeless. Pork develops its best flavor and texture when it is cooked to an interior temperature of 170 to 180°F and the center of the meat is slightly pink. This is particularly true for the tenderloin. Another clue: cook for about 1/2 hour per pound of unchilled meat. or until the juices run clear when pricked with a fork.

Peas and carrots parisian style

1 onion, coarsely chopped
olive oil
2 packages of frozen early peas
6 carrots, sliced and steamed (for 6 minutes)
garlic and parsley
a few lettuce leaves

  • Cook the onion in the olive oil until tender and slightly brown.
  • Add the carrots and peas, the lettuce and the garlic and parsley.
  • Correct seasonings and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Just before serving add a bit of butter.

A very simple dish of roasted potatoes

5 potatoes (peeled and cut in 2 inch chunks)
5 cloves of garlic, unpeeled

  • Oil a large roasting pan and spread the potatoes at the bottom without crowding.
  • Cook until golden brown at 400°F.

Fricasée de poulet vouvrionne

Natalie Hanson

To serve 6.

1/4 cup of oil (or mixture of oil and butter)
3 lb of chicken pieces
24 small white onions peeled
2 Tbsp of flour
1 cup of dry Vouvray wine
1-1/2 cups of water
Salt, freshly ground pepper
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
bouquet garni
3 sprigs of fresh tarragon
2 cups of mushrooms sliced
3 egg yolks
3 Tbsp of cream
2 Tbsp of brandy

  • Heat the oil and butter in a large pan, add the chicken pieces and turn them until they are sealed.
  • Do not allow them to brown.
  • Remove the chicken to a large saucepan that can go in the oven and reserve.
  • Add the small onions to the pan.
  • Cover with a lid and cook over a gentle heat until slightly brown.
  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Discard the oil, add a bit of butter to the pan and the flour.  Mix well.
  • Then, pour the wine and water and return to the heat until the sauce thickens.
  • Drain this liquid into the large saucepan with the chicken.
  • Add the salt, pepper, bouquet garni, garlic, tarragon and bring to a boil.
  • Replace the chicken, add the mushrooms, cover with the lid and simmer in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes.
  • Arrange the chicken in a warm platter and keep in turn off oven.
  • Whisk the egg yolks with the cream and brandy.
  • Pour a little of the hot liquid in which the chicken was cooked into the cream mixture and mix well.
  • Return to the pan and thicken over a low heat.  Do not allow to boil.
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning.
  • Arrange the onions and mushrooms at each end of the dish, strain the sauce over the chicken and serve.

Escalopes de porc with cumin & vermouth

Natalie Hanson

Serves 6.

12 thin slices of boneless center cut pork
about 6 Tbsp of butter
1/2 cup of flour
1 Tbsp of cumin
salt and pepper
1/2 cup of vermouth
chicken stock 

  • Prepare the slices of pork by flattening them between a plastic bag.
  • Sprinkle with cumin then lightly flour each piece of pork (escalope).
  • In a large skillet heat 2 Tbsp of butter and brown as much of the pork as you can on each side.
  • Do not crowd the escalopes.
  • Transfer them to a warm platter.
  • Deglaze the skillet with the vermouth and reduce the liquid until syrupy.
  • Add some chicken stock if more sauce is needed.
  • Pour over the cooked escalopes.
  • Repeat the process until all the escalopes are cooked.
  • Sprinkle with parsley, serve at once.
  • Serve with mushrooms cooked with a bit of vermouth and a dash of cream.

Coq au vin

Natalie Hanson

Serves 4 to 6 people.

The following recipe comes from Burgundy. A Beaujolais wine is best used both for cooking and drinking with this dish.

1 Tbsp of oil and 2 Tbsp of butter
3 oz of salt pork
3/4 lb of small white onions peeled
3-1/2 lb of chicken, jointed
3 Tbsp of brandy
1 Tbsp of flour
1-1/2 cups of red wine
1 cup of chicken stock
3 small tomatoes & 1 Tbsp of tomato paste
bouquet garni and garlic
nutmeg
1-1/2 cups of mushrooms, sliced
salt and pepper
croûtons
chopped parsley 

  • Heat the oil and butter in a heavy saucepan and cook the salt pork and small white onions until they are golden brown.
  • Remove them and brown the chicken joints in the pan.
  • Flame with the warmed brandy.
  • Remove the chicken joints and some of the fat.
  • Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 2 or 3 minutes.
  • Return the chicken to the pan along with the onions.
  • Pour in the wine, chicken stock, tomatoes, bouquet garni, nutmeg, mushrooms, salt and pepper.
  • Cover loosely and cook for approximately 1 hour or until chicken is tender.
  • Arrange the chicken in a serving platter covered with the mushrooms and onions.
  • Remove the grease from the juice, reduce, taste and adjust the seasoning.
  • Strain the sauce over the chicken.
  • Garnish with the croûtons and some chopped parsley.

Confit de canard

Natalie Hanson

Often only the legs and thighs of the duck are used for confit. The breast, called a magret, is cooked like a steak. If you intend to use the duck alone instead of using it to flavour other dishes such as cassoulet, reduce the amount of salt in this recipe by one third.

 1 large duck (about 4 lb)
3 Tbsp of coarse salt
1 tsp of ground pepper
2 or 3 sprigs of thyme
1 or 2 bay leaves, crumbled
3 lb of lard or duck fat

  • Cut the duck in 8 pieces, trimming the neck and wing and removing the backbone; these bones can be used for a soup.
  • Rub each piece of duck with some of the coarse salt and put it in a crock or terrine.
  • Sprinkle with pepper and the remaining salt and add the thyme and bay leaves.
  • Cover and leave in a cool place for 6 to 12 hours depending on how strong a flavour you want, turning the pieces occasionally.
  •  When ready to cook, wipe the excess salt from the duck pieces.
  • Set the oven at 300F.
  • Lay the duck pieces skin side down in a flameproof casserole and cook over a low fire for 15-20 minutes until the fat runs and the duck browns lightly.
  • Add enough fat to cover the browned duck.
  • Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours or until the duck is very tender and has rendered all its fat.
  • To preserve the duck; pour a layer of rendered duck fat at the bottom of a small terrine and leave until set.
  • Pack the pieces of duck on top and pour enough fat to cover them completely.
  • Cover the crock and keep in a cool place at least a week for the flavour to mellow.
  • If sealed with a cloth sprinkled with salt and then covered with paper, confit will keep for several months in a cool place.
  • To serve the confit by itself, leave it in a warm place until the fat runs.
  • Drain it, then fry it in a little fat until it is very hot and the skin is crisp and brown

Chicken sauté à la bordelaise

Natalie Hanson

To serve 4.

3 lb frying chicken, cut up
4 Tbsp of vegetable oil
16 peeled small white onions
4 Tbsp of unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp of lemon juice
1 nine-ounce package of frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted and drained
1/2 cup of chicken stock

  • In a heavy skillet, brown the chicken in the oil a few pieces at a time.
  • As the pieces becomes a rich golden brown, remove them to a plate.
  • Discard the fat in the skillet and add 2 Tbsp of butter.
  • Add the onions and cook them as lightly and evenly as possible for a few minutes.
  • Return the chicken to the skillet.
  • Season with salt and pepper, throw in the bay leaves and cook slowly for 1/2 hour, basting occasionally.
  • Meanwhile melt the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter in another skillet and add the lemon.
  • Put the artichoke hearts in and toss them in the lemon butter until they are coated.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add to the skillet with the chicken 15 minutes before the end of cooking.
  • Remove the chicken from the skillet and arrange on a warm plate with the onions and artichoke hearts around it.
  • Discard the bay leaves.
  • Pour the chicken stock in the skillet and deglaze.
  • Boil down until the sauce is reduced to a syrupy consistency.
  • Pour over the chicken and serve at once.

Chicken Riesling

Natalie Hanson

4 or more pounds of chicken (cut up, seasoned with salt and pepper, floured)
1 lb of mushrooms
2 Tbsp of olive oil  and 2 Tbsp of butter  (or just your choice of oil)
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp of flour
1 cup of chicken stock
2 cups of white wine (preferably Riesling)
Bouquet garni (bay leaf, thyme and parsley)

  • Slice the mushrooms.
  • Cook the mushrooms quickly in  1/2 cup of white wine, 2 Tbsp of butter, drops of lemon and salt until the liquid is evaporated.
  • In a large frying pan, gently brown the chicken in oil or butter, turning the pieces on all sides.
  • Do not let brown as much as you would for a Coq au vin. Set aside.
  • In the same frying pan, sweat the onion and carrots.
  • Add the garlic and powder the flour over the vegetables.
  • Add the wine, stock, bouquet garni and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat.
  • Add the chicken and cook at a very low heat for 30 to 35 minutes.
  • Remove chicken from casserole and reserve in a warm oven.
  • Drain the liquid from the frying pan into a regular casserole.
  • Discard the vegetables after squeezing all the liquid out of them.
  • Reduce the liquid in the casserole by one‑half or until it reaches a nice creamy consistency.
  • Add the mushrooms and the reserved chicken.
  • Before serving, reheat and add the liaison (1/2 cup of crème fraîche and 1 egg yolk).

 Crème fraîche

  • You can make the crème fraîche the day before by mixing 1/4 cup of sour cream with 1/2 cup of heavy cream and letting it mature at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight. Refrigerate.

You also can serve this dish without the liaison if you have concerns about cholesterol.

Chicken à la Louis

Natalie Hanson

To serve 6.

3 chicken breasts (6 halves)
6 slices of salami
6 slices of provolone cheese
1 package of linguini
1/2 cup of heavy cream
2 carrots
1 large onions
1 package of frozen spinach
1 green pepper
flour
salt and pepper

Vegetable soup

In a pot cook together, for about 1 hour:

1 quart 14 oz can of chicken stock (or homemade stock)
3 carrots
2 celery stalks
1 large onion, sliced thin
2 tomatoes, sliced thin
thyme, bay leaf, parsley, garlic

Preparing the chicken

  • Prepare the chicken breasts by flattening them between a plastic bag.
  • Set aside.
  • In a saucepan, cook the spinach until all water is evaporated.
  • In a food processor blend the carrots and pepper.
  • In a small saucepan cook the onion in olive oil until tender.
  • Add the spinach, the carrots and pepper and cook gently for 10 minutes.
  • Season to taste.
  • Lightly flour the chicken breasts.
  • Line each breast with a slice of salami and a slice of cheese.
  • Divide the vegetable puree to cover each breast.
  • Roll the breasts of chicken and place in a deep casserole.
  • Cover with the hot vegetable soup.
  • Cook in a 350°F preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  • In a large casserole cook the linguini following the directions on the package.

To serve

  • Remove the chicken rolls from the soup and reserve in a warm serving dish.
  • Sieve 1 cup of the soup in a saucepan and reduce until it thickens.
  • Add the cream and reduce again.
  • Put some linguini in each plate along with one roll of chicken.
  • Cover with the sauce.
  • Serve immediately.

Burgundian chicken

Natalie Hanson

3 Tbsp of olive oil
4 Tbsp of unsalted butter
1 chicken, well rinsed, patted dry, cut into 8 serving pieces
Salt and pepper
3/4 cup of red wine vinegar
2 large tomatoes, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup of chicken stock
fresh parsley 

  • In a deep skillet heat the oil with 1 Tbsp of butter over high heat.
  • Season the chicken and brown on one side until the skin turns golden brown.
  • Do not crowd the pieces together.
  • Regulate the heat to avoid scorching the skin.
  • Turn and brown on the other side.
  • Cook the remaining pieces in the same manner adding oil as needed.
  • Remove the chicken and pour out the cooking fat.
  • Over medium high heat reduce the vinegar by half.
  • Then add the chicken, the tomatoes and the chicken stock.
  • Simmer gently over medium heat until all the juices mingle nicely and the chicken is cooked through.
  • About 1/2 hour.
  • The chicken should be prepared ahead of time to this point.
  • Let warm at room temperature before proceeding.
  • To prepare the chicken for serving, heat the chicken through in the sauce.
  • Remove it from the sauce and place it on a warm platter.
  • Remove the warm sauce from the heat and add the remaining 3 Tbsp of butter.
  • Adjust the seasoning.
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Sprinkle on the parsley.