Chicken Baked with Apples and Thyme

Chicken with baked apples and thyme. Photo: Creative Commons/ Pexels

By baking the chicken with apples and thyme, you will have a lovely fragrant dish. Serve with roast potatoes or plain boiled basmati rice and steamed green beans.

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients

• 1 chicken (preferably organic)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into quarters
• 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons cream

Method

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and rub the butter over the skin. Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or oven dish and brown the chicken on all sides. Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes over gentle heat. Add the quartered apples, thyme sprigs and the stock and bring to a simmer.

Place in a preheated oven at 190°C and cook for one hour, uncovered. Check occasionally to ensure the liquid is not drying out. Stir in the cream, cook 5 minutes longer, then take from the oven.

To serve, carve the chicken onto a serving platter, spoon over the apples and the juice from the pan. (You may wish to reduce this to become a little thicker.)

Suggested Wines to Go With Today's Recipe

CHARDONNAY:

Martinborough 04

Manara Rock 04

Te Awa Longlands 05

PINOT NOIR:

Olssens

Carrick Unravelled

Quartz Reef