The fearsome yet fantastically flamboyant Marco Pierre White relays his splendid Chicken Chasseur recipe.

Ingredients: (serves 4)

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp plain flour, for coating
• Either 1 small chicken, cut into 8 pieces, or 8 chicken thighs, or 8 chicken breast fillets (skin on or off as preferred)
• 2 shallots, very finely chopped (100g or 3.5 oz)
• 50ml (3 ½ tbsp) brandy, optional
• 100ml (7 tbsp) white wine
• 1 chicken stock pot
• 600ml (2 1/2 cups) tomato juice (with an optional touch of gravy browning added in for extra colour if desired)
• 250g (9oz) button mushrooms, finely sliced
• 3 tbsp tarragon, chopped
• 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, skinned, de-seeded and finely diced
• A few sprigs of fresh parsley to garnish

Method:

Step One

Gently heat half of the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan. The oil should be hot, but not so hot that it scorches the floured chicken. Next, spread a layer of flour on a plate or a tray, and coat the chicken pieces evenly and thoroughly, shaking off any excess flour. This will add a golden-brown colour to the cooked chicken and help to thicken the sauce.

Step Two

Put the floured chicken pieces into the hot olive oil, skin side down, and fry without moving the pieces until golden-brown underneath. This should take around 8-10 minutes. Next, turn the chicken and fry until browned on the other side.

Now finely chop the shallot and add to the frying pan, placing the shallot under the chicken so that the shallot cooks.

Step Three

If you are using brandy, pour it in around the edge of the pan so that it runs underneath the chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate.

Add the wine in the same way, pouring it in around the sides of the pan, and cook for a further 2-3 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate and reduce the acidity.

Next, add the chicken stock pot and the tomato juice (with gravy browning if using). Shake the pan to gently work it in and turn the chicken pieces until fully coated in the liquid.

Bring slowly to the boil to allow the chicken stock pot to dissolve, then add the tarragon and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step Four

While the chicken is simmering, take a separate frying pan and heat the remaining olive oil.

Slice the mushrooms and add to the second pan, then fry them for 3-5 minutes.

Step Five

Next, add in the parsley and diced tomato, shaking the pan to mix everything in well.

Spoon the mushrooms, parsley and tomato over the chicken and garnish with sprigs of parsley, then serve.