Country Baked Chicken

We eat a lot of chicken in this house.   We quite like it, and its quite affordable. I really like the dark meat most of all, but I tend to cook breasts most of the time because they are healthier.  

It can be rather tasteless sometimes and has a tendency to dry out more than the rest, especially if overcooked.   A good chicken breast, however,  is rather like a canvas waiting to be painted upon . . .

 

I prefer my chicken breasts with parts of the bone still attached, which helps to keep them moist I think.

The other day I decided I was going to try brining them in a simple salt and water brine, only for a short time . . . just to see if it made a difference and . . . guess what?

It worked beautifully . . . these chicken breasts were deliciously moist and tender.  

I covered them with a tasty herbed crumb and baked them in a mix of chicken stock and butter until the juices ran clear . . .

Then I turned those pan juices into a delicious gravy which was absolutely wonderful spooned over mounds of mashed potatoes, and of course with that tender flavorful chicken.  It was quite a delicious meal actually.  I will do this again!  

It's amazing what a little salt bath can do. Note - You won't need to season your chicken with any salt as it will have absorbed some of the salt from the bath.

*Country Baked Chicken*

Serves 4

Printable Recipe  

Not sure how it works, but this is the moistest chicken you could ever want to eat.  A crisp, well seasoned crust, and moist tender chicken.  What more could a person ask for?  Oh yes . . . a delicious gravy too!  

4 partially boned, but skinless chicken breasts

2 tsp salt

cold water to cover  

4 TBS fine dry bread crumbs

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp dried sage

6 TBS melted butter

1 cup chicken stock

To finish:

2 TBS flour, shaken with 1/2 cup milk  

Place the chicken into a bowl and cover it with cold water.   Stir in the 2 tsp of salt and swiish it around.  Let the chicken sit in the salted water for half an hour  or so.  At the end of that time, drain the chicken very well and dry with some paper towels.


Preheat the 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.

Place 4 TBS of the melted butter in a baking dish large enough to hold all the chicken pieces.  Add the chicken breasts and stir them around to coat the chicken.  Arrange bone side down in the dish.  

Mix together the bread crumbs, salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, and sage.  Sprinkle this mixture over top of the chicken pieces.  Dot with the remaining butter.  Pour the cup of chicken stock into the baking dish from the edge of the dish so that the stock fills the bottom without touching the crumbs.   

 Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a fork.  Remove the chicken pieces to a heated platter and tent lightly to keep warm, without steaming.
 

Pour the pan juices into a saucepan.  Whisk in the flour and milk mixture.  Bring to the boil, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.  If it is too thick, thin with a bit more milk until you get your desired consistency.   Taste and adjust seasoning with some salt and pepper.



Serve the chicken and pass the gravy on the side.  Mashed potatoes go very well with this, as well as some veg and or salad on the side.

This chicken is really tender and delicious.  I really hope you will give it a try!  Bon Appetit! 

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