Recipe: chicken with beaujolais, prunes, shallots and thyme by Claire Thomson
An autumn recipe to cook in mid-November – when beaujolais nouveau is released

This is the ultimate autumn recipe, said Claire Thomson: it's one to cook in mid-November, when beaujolais nouveau is released. The other ingredients – prunes, thyme, garlic and Dijon – will also flatter and elevate the chicken. Serve it on a pile of buttery mashed potato, with a glass of the same wine in hand. Go old-fashioned and tie your parsley and thyme stalks, wrapped in the bay leaves and secured with some kitchen string, into a bouquet garni.
Ingredients: serves 4
- 1kg whole chicken thighs, legs, drumsticks or breasts
- 50g butter
- 4 large or 12 small shallots, peeled (leave the root on to help them hold together)
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 thyme sprigs, plus ½ tsp picked thyme leaves
- ½ bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped and stalks reserved
- 2 bay leaves
- 200ml beaujolais, or another young, fruity red wine
- 16 pitted prunes
- 200ml chicken stock
- 1 tbsp Dijon, plus more to serve
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Melt the butter in a casserole pan over a moderate heat. Add the chicken, and fry for around 5 minutes, turning, until golden brown all over. Add the shallots and continue to cook for another 4-5 minutes, until they too have taken on a bit of colour.
- Turn down the heat and add the tomato purée, garlic, thyme sprigs, parsley stalks and bay leaves and stir gently.
- Then add the wine, stirring well to dislodge any bits of caramelised chicken stuck to the pan. Simmer for a few minutes, then add the prunes and the chicken stock. Cook over a low-moderate heat for around 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and leave it to rest on a plate, keeping it warm, while you reduce the liquid in the pan over a high heat for a couple of minutes to thicken it slightly. Add the Dijon and whisk to combine.
- Add the chicken back into the sauce in the pan and season well with salt, if needed, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
- Remove from the heat and strew with the chopped parsley and picked thyme leaves, and with more mustard on the side.
Recipe from "One Pan Chicken: 70 All-in-One Chicken Recipes For Simple Meals, Every Day" by Claire Thomson, published by Quadrille at £20. Photography by Sam Folan. To buy from The Week Bookshop for £15.99, call 020-3176 3835 or visit theweekbookshop.co.uk.
Sign up for The Week's Food & Drink newsletter for recipes, reviews and recommendations.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
America's academic brain drain has begun
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the Trump administration targets universities and teachers, educators are eying greener academic pastures elsewhere — and other nations are starting to take notice
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why is Musk targeting a Wisconsin Supreme Court race?
Today's Big Question His money could help conservatives, but it could also produce a Democratic backlash
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How to pay off student loans
The explainer Don't just settle for the default repayment plan
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
6 welcoming recipes for cooking and baking during your spring days
The Week Recommends You want it flavorful, and you want it exciting
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Snow White: Disney's 'earnest effort to meet an impossible brief'
Talking Point Live-action remake of Disney classic is not the disaster it could have been – but where's the personality?
By The Week UK Published
-
Don McCullin picks his favourite books
The Week Recommends The photojournalist shares works by Daniel Defoe, Lesley Blanch and Roland Philipps
By The Week UK Published
-
6 breathtaking homes in capital cities
Feature Featuring a glass conservatory in Atlanta and a loft library in Boston
By The Week US Published
-
Playhouse Creatures: 'dream-like' play is 'lively, funny and sharp-witted'
Anna Chancellor offers a 'glinting performance' alongside a 'strong' supporting cast
By The Week UK Published
-
The CIA Book Club: 'entertaining and vivid' book explores a huge Cold War secret
The Week Recommends 'Gripping' narrative explores a covert smuggling operation across the Iron Curtain
By The Week UK Published
-
Cherry blossom season: Washington diners’ happy time
feature The five best spots to enjoy the festivities
By The Week US Published
-
Film reviews: Eephus and The Day the Earth Blew Up
feature Small-town baseballers play their final game and Porky and Daffy return to the big screen
By The Week US Published