Recipe One: Coq au Vin

Coq au vin is one of those recipes that intimidated me. However, when I saw Ina Garten making it on Food Network, I had to try it. She made it simple. No standing over the stove for hours or crazy expensive wine. So I gave it a go with the garlic mashed potatoes because, yeah, potatoes of any kind and I’m there.

Here is a link to both the video on YouTube and the Food Network recipe page.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDbcdDJPRU

Recipe Page: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coq-au-vin-recipe4-2011654?soc=youtube

I had to admit it was one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. I’m an adventurous eater, always willing to try new things.

My chicken was really purple-red from the wine, and that made it funny, but the taste was divine. Chickeny, deep flavor, but the acid from the wine kept it from being too rich. The vegetables were soft but still had a bit of bite. I’m obsessed with pearl onions now.

While this isn’t the most labor-intensive dish, it took time. I had never made it before, so it took over three hours (the time will probably get better as I make it). My chicken was much larger, and the searing took more time as well. I invested in a cooking probe that hooks up to my phone to get the chicken to the right temperature.

I would make this again, maybe for a once a month family dinner. There is no doubt in my mind that if you follow Ina’s recipe, you will get an amazingly delicious coq au vin. Let me know if you try it.