Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Gravy

Define comfort: A classic farm-style dinner, just a few simple ingredients, the heart of everyday home cooking past – Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Gravy, a humble little gem.

The Bijouxs Recipe Collection project is truly an independent labor of love. The mission is to share my eclectic jewel box of treasured recipes collected from years of cooking, both personally and professionally, along with photographs depicting the everyday beauty around us, right here in our kitchens – that’s the designer part of me. Sometimes, the everyday beauty is so simple, a classic chicken recipe with no frills, a lovely image of cooking at home.

Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Gravy is a sample of my family’s humble, farm-style heritage cooking, dating back to the 1800’s. This simple dish was reserved just for family. Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs, only 4 ingredients: chicken, a little butter, flour and stock, is really more of a technique than recipe, designed to garner every bit of flavor from a few simple ingredients.

It begins by using economical pieces of chicken, the leg-thigh combination. A slow searing/cooking process yields a very crispy brown crust. This process is best achieved with a cast iron skillet (a Bijouxs Basics) and placing a lightly weighted cover on the chicken to achieve the maximum skillet contact possible. After browning both sides of the chicken, the pan gravy comes together with a sprinkle of flour and stock, then the chicken goes back in the pan and is simmered in the sauce for just a couple of minutes before serving. Steamed rice with parsley completes the meal.

COOK’S NOTES: You can use this technique with other pieces of chicken, but the leg-thigh pieces deliver a super crispy crust, while remaining tender. Depending on the size of your pan, you will need to experiment to create a weighted cover – some ideas to try are an inverted pan lid, pie plate, or large plate weighted with another smaller skillet or a couple of large canned goods, such as soup or tomatoes, placed on top.

Simple comfort and everyday beauty, past and present from Bijouxs Recipe Collection.

As always, enjoy. B