Madame Renoir's Chicken Sauté

Chicken Sauté

This dish was created by Auguste Renoir's wife Aline. It is a quick and easy chicken dish that is perfect for a casual meal for two (as below) or can be expanded for a last-minute dinner party for as many people as you like. Simply increase the quantities of the ingredients to accommodate the number of people you are preparing it for.

I like to use both green and black olives in my version - if preferred you can choose one or the other. If using green olives, I recommend Castelvetrano as they are milder in flavor.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (you can use legs and breasts if preferred, but I like the juiciness of the thighs)

2tbsp unsalted butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1 large clove garlic, chopped or crushed

Handful of parsley (I prefer curly, but you can use Italian flat leaf), roughly chopped

A couple of sprigs of thyme

1 bay leaf

1 large tomato, chopped

1 cup small button mushrooms (keep whole if very small, otherwise, quarter them)

1/2 cup black olives, pitted

1/2 cup green olives, pitted

Salt and black pepper

1/2 cup white wine

2 tbsp Cognac (optional)

Method

1. Heat the oil in a sauté pan and gently brown the chicken pieces to crisp the skin. Set aside.

2. Add the butter to the pan, and soften the garlic, onions, and herbs over medium heat.

3. Season with plenty salt and pepper and add the chopped tomato, 1 cup of water and white wine to the pan.

4. Stir the sauce gently, stirring to ensure that it doesn't stick.

5. Add the mushrooms and chicken back into the pan, and gently simmer for 20-25 minutes. Check halfway through and add a little more water if the dish looks dry.

6. Add the olives and Cognac to the dish, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

7. Remove the thyme sprigs and the bay leaf, add the chopped parsley to the dish, and serve at once over mashed potatoes, rice, or gnocchi.

In the Glass

This dish pairs well with a fresh and fruity Burgundy or Pinot Noir. If you prefer a white wine, a dry Riesling or Pinot Grigio would work well.