How to Cook Coq Au Vin

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cook coq au vin

How to Cook Coq Au Vin

From Anthony Bourdain's "Les Halles" cookbook. Coq au vin is a recipe that looks like a lot of work but is easily within your reach if you spread it across 2 days.

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Step 1 of 42

The first day is all about preparation. We will make the marinade and prepare the chicken to cook the following evening.

Step 2 of 42
First we are going to make the marinade. Dice the celery, onion, and carrot. You'll also need one bouquet garni (next step), black peppercorns and of course red wine.

First we are going to make the marinade. Dice the celery, onion, and carrot. You'll also need one bouquet garni (next step), black peppercorns and of course red wine.

Step 3 of 42
A bouquet garni is a mix of fresh thyme, parsley, bay leaf tied together so that it's easy to extract later.

A bouquet garni is a mix of fresh thyme, parsley, bay leaf tied together so that it's easy to extract later.

Step 4 of 42
Open your bottle of red wine.

Open your bottle of red wine.

Step 5 of 42

Pour out the whole bottle into a large pot.

Step 6 of 42
Add the onion, carrot, celery, black peppercorn and bouquet garni to the pot.

Add the onion, carrot, celery, black peppercorn and bouquet garni to the pot.

Step 7 of 42
Take out your chicken. We will want this chicken trimmed meaning wing tips, guts and neckbone removed.

Take out your chicken. We will want this chicken trimmed meaning wing tips, guts and neckbone removed.

Step 8 of 42
Submerge the chicken in the marinade.

Submerge the chicken in the marinade.

Step 9 of 42
It isn't quite covered so I'm bringing in a second bottle of red wine.

It isn't quite covered so I'm bringing in a second bottle of red wine.

Step 10 of 42
Now it's mostly covered. Cover the top with plastic wrap and put in the fridge overnight.

Now it's mostly covered. Cover the top with plastic wrap and put in the fridge overnight.

Step 11 of 42

Day two is where the real cooking happens. Don't worry, you'll have multiple bottles of wine open throughout the process so you can probably mix in a drink here or there.

Step 12 of 42
The next day, take out the chicken from the marinade. Pat dry with paper towels.

The next day, take out the chicken from the marinade. Pat dry with paper towels.

Step 13 of 42
Drain our the solids from the marinade using a strainer. Don't get rid of the actual marinade liquid!

Drain our the solids from the marinade using a strainer. Don't get rid of the actual marinade liquid!

Step 14 of 42
Put the marinade and solids aside, we'll use them soon.

Put the marinade and solids aside, we'll use them soon.

Step 15 of 42
Start heating a large pot on medium heat.

Start heating a large pot on medium heat.

Step 16 of 42
Add butter in the pot.

Add butter in the pot.

Step 17 of 42
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Then we need to sear the chicken. Brown it on all sides.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Then we need to sear the chicken. Brown it on all sides.

Step 18 of 42
Take out the chicken and set aside after it's been browned.

Take out the chicken and set aside after it's been browned.

Step 19 of 42
Add the carrots, onions and celery solids from the marinade into the pot.

Add the carrots, onions and celery solids from the marinade into the pot.

Step 20 of 42
After they've been cooking for a few minutes. Cover the solids with flour.

After they've been cooking for a few minutes. Cover the solids with flour.

Step 21 of 42
Mix the flour around.

Mix the flour around.

Step 22 of 42
Add the reserved marinade from earlier in the pot.

Add the reserved marinade from earlier in the pot.

Step 23 of 42
Carefully add the chicken back into the pot. Try not to splash the marinade!

Carefully add the chicken back into the pot. Try not to splash the marinade!

Step 24 of 42
Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat slightly. This will stew for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat slightly. This will stew for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Step 25 of 42
Now in a separate pan we will start to create the sauce for the dish. Begin by sautéing your bacon.

Now in a separate pan we will start to create the sauce for the dish. Begin by sautéing your bacon.

Step 26 of 42
After it's done, set aside on a paper towel.

After it's done, set aside on a paper towel.

Step 27 of 42
In the same pan, remove the stems from the mushrooms and sauté them.

In the same pan, remove the stems from the mushrooms and sauté them.

Step 28 of 42
Set aside the mushrooms with the bacon.

Set aside the mushrooms with the bacon.

Step 29 of 42
Peel your shallots.

Peel your shallots.

Step 30 of 42
Add the Shallots to the pot and add enough water to cover them.

Add the Shallots to the pot and add enough water to cover them.

Step 31 of 42
Cover with parchment paper if you have it. I was out so I used aluminum foil instead.

Cover with parchment paper if you have it. I was out so I used aluminum foil instead.

Step 32 of 42
The shallots are done when the water is nearly evaporated.

The shallots are done when the water is nearly evaporated.

Step 33 of 42
Like the bacon and mushrooms, set aside the shallots.

Like the bacon and mushrooms, set aside the shallots.

Step 34 of 42
Add a cup of red wine to the pan (yes more wine!) and cook it until it's reduced by half.

Add a cup of red wine to the pan (yes more wine!) and cook it until it's reduced by half.

Step 35 of 42
After your chicken is done stewing for about 1 hour and 15-20 minutes, remove it from the pot and set aside.

After your chicken is done stewing for about 1 hour and 15-20 minutes, remove it from the pot and set aside.

Step 36 of 42
Now we will add the marinade to the sauce pan. Strain out the solids and add the sauce to the pan.

Now we will add the marinade to the sauce pan. Strain out the solids and add the sauce to the pan.

Step 37 of 42
Add the bacon, mushrooms and shallots to the sauce and simmer for a few minutes.

Add the bacon, mushrooms and shallots to the sauce and simmer for a few minutes.

Step 38 of 42
Once your chicken has been aside for a few minutes, it's time to quarter it.

Once your chicken has been aside for a few minutes, it's time to quarter it.

Step 39 of 42
Quarter the chicken. Cut the wings, legs and breasts and place into a deep serving dish.

Quarter the chicken. Cut the wings, legs and breasts and place into a deep serving dish.

Step 40 of 42

Pour the sauce over the quartered chicken.

Step 41 of 42
Use a ladle to serve the dish.

Use a ladle to serve the dish.

Step 42 of 42
Dinner is served!

Dinner is served!

You're Done

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Collector of random hobbies. Triathlete & Developer @ Snapguide.

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12 Comments
Supplies

1 Liter Red Wine

1 Onion

1 Carrot

1 Celery Rib

4 Cloves of Garlic

1 Tablespoon Whole black peppercorns

1 Bouquet Garni (Thyme, Bay leaf, Parsley)

1 Whole chicken

Salt & Pepper

2 Tablespoons Olive oil

6 Tablespoons Butter

1 Tablespoon Flour

¼ Pounds Bacon

½ Pounds White Mushrooms

6 Shallots

1 Pinch Sugar

Charles Watson

That looks great !!!

Charles Watson last year

Gio Nes

Looks delicious! Great dish.

Gio Nes last year

Magie S

This looks great! I'll have to try it this weekend. Thanks for a great guide!

Magie S last year

Elie Saoud

Looks yummy !

Elie Saoud last year

Suzi Bunbunzz

This is also very good with pork shoulder.

Suzi Bunbunzz last year

Rahul Malik

That's great Erik, let me know how it turns out!

(author) last year

Steven Tong

This looks real complex. Thanks for jour guide to help simplify it.

Steven Tong last year

Erik Accart-Huemer

I'm hungry now! I will try this next week on my visit to my mum at the cote d'azur.

Erik Accart-Huemer last year

Al B

This looks great can't wait to try it. Very well presented.

Al B last year

Rahul Malik

Thanks!

(author) last year

Elaine Tan

Looks really good

Elaine Tan last year

Can Duruk

This is glorious.

Can Duruk last year

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Rahul Malik

Hope you don't mind that I cooked with it! 😃

(author) last year

Kat LeMaster

That's my favorite wine!

Kat LeMaster last year

Suzi Bunbunzz

Wine pouring is always a good sound!

Suzi Bunbunzz last year

Charles Watson

Love that sound

Charles Watson last year

Suzi Bunbunzz

Ah good ole Menage a Trois!

Suzi Bunbunzz last year

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Rahul Malik

A 2-3 lb chicken should be good.

(author) last year

Steven Ramkumar

How big of a chicken do you recommend for the amount of ingredients you used? How many pounds was your chicken?

Steven Ramkumar last year

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Camilla Tubertini

The best thing about cooking Italian and French... ;)

Camilla Tubertini last year

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