I love cooking complete meals in one pot because they save time, cleanup, and always have the good rustic feel I love about cooking. With that said, I’m starting a new category called one pot wonder. This category will include simple recipes that are great for feeding a ton of people. The great thing about these recipes is that they can be scaled up according to your needs – all you need is a giant pot, and you can cook for as many people as you want. Simplicity is key.
This is a very simple recipe where you braise chicken in your most fancy vintage of Charles Shaw (I used Cabernet Sauvignon because it sounds fancy). Get a bottle from the deepest recesses of your wine cellar, or just drive down to Trader Joe’s. While your at it, grab their raw frozen chicken thighs. For some reason, Trader Joe’s frozen chicken always tastes delicious, and it’s cheap and convenient.
And yes. I am on a lentil kick. They are so cheap and easy that I can’t stop making them. Deal with it.
Recipe for 4-5 large servings:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3/4 bottle red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 1 1/2 cups lentils
- 2 carrots
- 1 large onion
- 1 cup water
- 3 cloves garlic
- Rough chop onion. Finely chop garlic. Add both to a large pot with a touch of olive oil. Simmer on Med-low until slightly brown.
- Add 3/4 bottle of wine. Add chicken (it can still be frozen or thawed). Bring to boil then turn to low. Braise for 15 minutes on low.
- Remove chicken thighs and shred with two forks. Add back to pot.
- Rinse lentils really well. Add to pot with 1 cup water and chopped carrots. Mix really well. Bring back to boil then turn to med-low. Cook on med-low for 10 minutes or until the lentils are done. Leave the lid on for half the time and then take it off so the water can evaporate.
- Mix periodically so the lentils cook evenly. If the liquid runs dry before the lentils are done just add a touch of water and mix. You want them to be moist but not soupy when they are cooked all the way through.
- Add salt and pepper to taste
- Done
