 Breadcrumbs

  



   ![Rather Special Chicken & Herb Casserole](https://media.sheerluxe.com/JzWyNJSntMSTL-6IbWOMDTRUR0E=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2022%2F01%2Fmary-berry-chicken-casserole.jpeg?itok=LIi5o-Fr)

  

 

 



 

  LAURA EDWARDS 

 

 

 

[Life](/life)

 /  14 January 2022  

#  Rather Special Chicken &amp; Herb Casserole  


Sage was often used as a dried herb in recipes but now it is readily available fresh and is simple to grow. It comes with either green or purple leaves – they both taste the same – and it's what makes this all-in-one dish sing.  


[ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/29002)

 

  LAURA EDWARDS 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Serves

 4-6 

 



Total Time

 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

 



 

 

Ingredients

    250g (9oz) dry cured bacon, snipped into small pieces  

   2 large onions, chopped  

   8 skinless chicken thighs, bone in  

   2 tbsp sunflower oil  

   30g (1.oz) plain flour  

   150ml (. pint) hot chicken stock  

   150ml (. pint) dry white wine  

   2 large sprigs of thyme  

   Small bunch of sage, 6 leaves removed for garnish  

   2 bay leaves  

   200g (7oz) small chestnut mushrooms, quartered  

   100g (4oz) full-fat creme fraiche  

   A knob of butter  

   Small bunch of parsley, chopped  

 



  

 



Method

 Step 1 

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/Gas 3.



 Step 2 

Place the bacon in a large non-stick ovenproof frying pan or flameproof casserole and fry over a medium heat for a few minutes to render out the fat. Add the onions and continue to fry until the bacon is brown at the edges. Transfer the bacon and onions to a plate using a slotted spoon and set aside.



 Step 3 

Lightly season the chicken. Place the oil in the unwashed dish, add the chicken and brown over a high heat, turning once. Transfer to the plate with the bacon and onions.



 Step 4 

Scatter the flour into the dish (adding a little more oil, if needed) and stir to combine. Gradually incorporate the hot stock, whisking, and allow to thicken. Pour in the wine and return the bacon, onions and chicken to the pan. Stir well, add the thyme sprigs, sage sprigs and bay leaves. The sauce  
 will be quite thick at this stage. Bring to the boil, season well with salt and black pepper and cover. Transfer to the oven for 30 minutes.



 Step 5 

Remove the dish from the oven and add the mushrooms and creme fraiche. Stir well and return to the oven for a further 15–20 minutes, until the chicken is tender.



 Step 6 

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a small pan over a medium heat. Add the whole sage leaves and fry until crisp.



 Step 7 

Remove the bay leaves, thyme and sage sprigs from the casserole and discard (some leaves will have fallen off to flavour the casserole). Stir in the parsley and serve with the crisp sage leaves on top.



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Mary’s tips**  
\* Can be made up to a day ahead. Add the crème fraîche and mushrooms when reheating.  
\* Freezes well.

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/fVB0ITQjK3ZP4bNULtqIlWtY9fk=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2022%2F01%2Fmary-berry-love-cook-book-jacket_3.jpg?itok=N7ucorZu)

 

 ](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A//www.waterstones.com/book/love-to-cook/mary-berry/9781785946776) 

 

 

 

 

 

Extracted from [*Love to Cook*](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Flove-to-cook%2Fmary-berry%2F9781785946776) by Mary Berry (BBC Books, £26). Photography by Laura Edwards.

 

 

 

 

  

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