Cider Chicken Thigh Casserole with Fresh Plums

“This is a great supper dish that is full of flavour and very simple to make. This tasty recipe is perfect paired with creamy mashed or new potatoes.”

Serves 4
You will need

• 8 Sutton Hoo chicken thighs - skin on (our chicken drumsticks also work really well in this recipe!)

• 1 tablespoon plain flour

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 100g butter

• 2 garlic cloves, finely diced

• Few sprigs fresh rosemary

• 75g button mushrooms - washed

• 250ml Cider (We love Aspalls Organic Cyder)

• 100ml double cream

• 200ml chicken stock or water

• 2/4 plums - de stoned and cut into wedges.

• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Pre heat oven to 200°C.

2. Rub the chicken with a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper and then dip both sides of the chicken in the flour and shake off the excess flour from the thighs.

3. Gently heat the oil and half the butter in a large casserole dish on a low to medium heat then add the thighs and fry on both sides in the casserole dish until golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

4. Put the remaining butter in the pan and put in the mushrooms. Fry for 2-3 minutes whilst scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Then add in the garlic and rosemary and gently fry these for another 2 minutes, then pour in the Cider. Bring to a slight simmer then put the chicken back in the casserole pan.

5. Pour in the stock/water and gently warm and then place in the oven. Cook for 30mins.

6. Carefully remove from the oven and put in the plums and cream. Stir thoroughly and then return to the oven and cook for a further 10mins.

7. Finally, remove from the oven, stir again and check the seasoning. Adjust to taste and then you are ready to serve. This goes well with rice, bread or any type of potato.