A straightforward chicken stew with leeks, carrots and celeriac, finished with a little mustard.
Serves 4 | Preparation: 20 minutes | Cooking: 55 minutes | Total: 75 minutes
Times include the chilling, soaking or resting stated in the method. Cooking times are a guide: check tenderness and doneness before serving.
Ingredients
650 g boneless skinless chicken thighs, in large pieces
20 ml rapeseed oil
350 g leeks, washed and sliced
300 g carrots, sliced
300 g celeriac, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
20 g plain flour
700 ml low-salt chicken stock
2 thyme sprigs
15 g Dijon mustard
60 g crème fraîche, optional
Salt and black pepper
Method
Heat the oil in a heavy pan. Brown the chicken in two batches for 8 minutes altogether; transfer to a plate and keep raw-meat utensils separate.
Cook the leeks, carrots and celeriac gently for 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and flour for 1 minute.
Gradually stir in the stock. Return the chicken and any juices, add thyme and bring to a simmer.
Cover and simmer gently for 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the roots are tender and chicken is fully cooked. Check the thickest pieces reach 75°C for 30 seconds with a clean probe.
Remove thyme stems. Stir in mustard and optional crème fraîche; warm through gently, season and serve.
Variations and substitutions
Use potatoes instead of celeriac. For dairy-free stew omit the crème fraîche. Use 15 g cornflour blended with cold water at the end instead of the flour for a gluten-free version, checking stock and mustard labels.
Homegrown and seasonal produce
Leeks can stand through much of winter; lift what you need and wash well. Celeriac is useful for stored harvests. Celery and mustard are allergens.
Storage and freezing
Cool promptly in shallow portions and refrigerate within 2 hours at 5°C or below. Eat within 48 hours. Freeze in labelled portions for up to 3 months for best quality. Defrost in the fridge, use within 24 hours and reheat only once until steaming hot throughout.
Find more ideas in the complete recipe menu. Explore our growing guide finder and From Garden to Kitchen guide, or plan your next harvest with Your Growing Companion.
Stock photograph illustrating ingredients or a serving idea. These recipes are practical ideas to try; they are not presented as all having been tested in my kitchen.
