Drawing Challenge 2014 — D

Here is my drawing for day 4 of my challenge:

D for Dragoncello (Tarragon).

Tarragon is a delicious herb which heightens the flavours of other herbs. Often used in French cooking, in Italian dishes it goes beautifully with tomatoes. Unfortunately I haven't tried it in an Italian dish myself, so here is a French recipe given to me by a friend for chicken casserole with mustard and tarragon. It is easy to make and very yummy!

Chicken Casserole with Mustard & Tarragon

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
1 kg chicken, chopped into bite size pieces
1 onion, diced
1 leek, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
350g button mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup cream
A squirt of lemon juice
2 teaspoons dijon mustard

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Heat some of the oil in a large saucepan and cook the chicken until golden. Remove chicken from saucepan and put it into the casserole dish you're going to bake it in.

2. Add remaining oil to the saucepan and cook onion, leek and garlic until soft and translucent.

3. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft and most of the liquid is reduced.

4. Add the tarragon, chicken stock, cream, lemon juice and mustard to the saucepan, bring to the boil and allow to simmer for two minutes.

5. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish, mix with the chicken and cook in the oven for one hour, until sauce has reduced and thickened. Have the dish covered for 45 minutes of the cooking, removing it for the final 15 minutes. Serve with crusty bread and butter.

Serves 4. Enjoy!