Ingredients

  • 12 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 whole chicken, Split into quarters
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 slices bacon or 3 slices pancetta, finely chopped
  • 8 ounces button mushrooms, halved (or left whole if they are small)
  • 2 garlic cloves, Minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced
  • 1 12 cups sweet marsala wine
  • 1 12 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 12 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces and chilled
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, Minced
  • sea salt
  • cracked black pepper
  • 3 cups chicken, sauce
  • 3 cups half-and-half
  • 12 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups coarsely ground polenta
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, Cut into Large Chunks
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh sage, minced
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese, Grated
  • sea salt
  • cracked black pepper

Method

  • Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375F.
  • Spread flour in a shallow dish.
  • rinse chicken breasts, pat dry and season with salt and pepper.
  • Dredge in flour to coat shaking off any excess flour.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking.
  • Add the chicken skin side down and cook until light golden brown.
  • Flip pieces and cook on all sides to the same consistency, about 10 minutes total.
  • Remove from pan and keep warm.
  • Add a little more of the oil to the pan on high heat and add the bacon, mushrooms, garlic and onions.
  • Season with salt/peper and cook just long enough to crisp up the bacon and get some color on the mushrooms, about 2 to 3 minute Stir in the tomato paste and rosemary/thyme and cook about 1 minute longer.
  • Place the chicken pieces back into the pan skin-side up and spread them out evenly, pushing them down into the mushrooms and onions.
  • Add the Marsala, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, and add the chicken broth.
  • Cover and place the whole pot in the oven and cook until the tops of the chicken are golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
  • In the mean time, cook your polenta.
  • CHEESY HERB POLENTA: Bring the chicken stock, half and half and salt to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
  • Pour the polenta into the boiling mixture in a slow stream while whisking constantly in a circular motion.
  • Bring to a simmer, still stirring constantly.
  • Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring vigorously and scraping the sides and bottom of the pot; until the polenta becomes soft and smooth, about 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the herbs, butter and the cheese, 1/4 cup at a time, until thick and creamy.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Use tongs to remove the chicken from the pan and transfer onto a serving platter and keep warm.
  • Set the dutch oven back over the burner on high heat.
  • Bring up to a boil and cook until thickened and flavors have become concentrated, about 3 to 4 minute.
  • Shut off the heat, add the butter cubes and stir gently to melt the butter evenly.
  • This will make the sauce silky smooth and give it a richer taste.
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the lemon juice and fold in the parsley.
  • To Serve:Ladle Polenta onto serving plates.
  • Arrange one chicken quarter atop each mound of polenta.Spoon the sauce and mushrooms over the chicken.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley or a spring of rosemary.
  • Enjoy!