Creamy Tarragon Chicken And Potatoes

Looking for a great starter for this one pan meal? Why not give this Spinach Apple Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese a try? I am so thrilled to share this fabulous recipe with you. It’s hard to go wrong when chicken in a cream sauce is involved. Am I right? This tarragon flavoured sauce is one of the most beautiful inventions of the French cuisine but sadly not as popular in other countries and it should change. Tarragon is a fragrant herb that deserves recognition.

What is tarragon good for?

Terragon is a herb and it goes exceptionally well with chicken and fish as it has a sweet, almost anise seed like fragrance and a slightly peppery taste. When used in right quantities it can elevate your dish and take it from every day to extraordinary. Tarragon is responsible for the taste of the famous Bearnaise sauce that goes so well with steak!

How to make it

As you can see from the photo above this recipe doesn’t have a very long ingredient list. It pretty much relies on proper techniques and quality ingredients to provide the taste as many French dishes do. Since we are using skin-on chicken legs it’s important to start the recipe by browning them well on each side. As messy as it is, the browning will improve the taste of the cream sauce and the texture of the chicken. If you really hate the splatter this step creates, you a splash guard to keep oil under control. The rest is easy. Saute onions and garlic, then deglaze with white wine. Another flavour maker here! Chicken stock, cream and tarragon will finish the sauce, in which we braise the chicken and potatoes for about 40 minutes. Done.

Do I cook the chicken in the oven or stove top?

You can do either. The key is to simmer your browned chicken in the sauce until it’s cooked all the way through and tender. I prefer cooking mine in the oven uncovered as it gives the chicken skin that beautiful colour and crispy texture. The cream is added in the last 10 minutes to avoid curdling as cream tends to do at high temperatures and prolonged cooking process.

What can I substitute for cream?

If you are avoid dairy for any reason, you can safely use a plant based alternative like Soya single cream. The one made by Alpro is our family’s favourite. As my son is allergic to dairy we tend to use it in place of cream in many dishes like Swedish Meatballs or Chicken and Bacon Pasta.