Apple cider mingles with flavors of thyme and shallots to create this comforting chicken dinner that’s perfect for the High Holidays.
Recipe reprinted with permission from “Modern Jewish Cooking.”
Join Leah Koenig on Wednesday, September 1st at 7:30 pm ET to learn how to make apple cider-braised chicken as part of The Nosher’s High Holidays Cooking Class Series. Register here.
Ingredients
- 4 lb (1.8 kg) skin-on chicken legs and thighs, trimmed of excess fat
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 3 firm, sweet apples, peeled, quartered, cored and cut into ½-inch wedges
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme + 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme
- 6 medium shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
- ½ cup (120 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups (480 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
Directions
- Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the chicken pieces, flipping once, until browned on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. If the bottom of the pan begins to look dry, add a little more oil.
- Transfer the browned chicken pieces to a large baking dish and top with the apple wedges and thyme sprigs.
- Lower the heat under the frying pan to medium and add the shallots. Season with a little salt cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped thyme and cook for 1 minute, then stir in the apple cider and the cider vinegar, scraping up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Raise heat to high, and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in the broth and bring to a boil, then carefully pour the braising liquid over the chicken and apples. Cover the baking dish with foil and braise in the oven until the chicken is very tender, 45 to 55 minutes.
- Remove baking dish from the oven and transfer the chicken and apples to a serving platter.
- Transfer 1 ½ cups (360 ml) of the braising liquid to a medium saucepan set over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until the liquid reduces by two-thirds, 10-15 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve warm.
