Braised Chicken, Toulouse Sausages and Beans Recipe

Method

1. Heat the oven to 170˚C/gas mark 3. Slice the bacon into batons. Heat the vegetable oil in a spacious lidded heat- and ovenproof casserole dish over a medium heat. Brown the sausages thoroughly and remove them to a mixing bowl. Wipe out the pan, add a tablespoon of the olive oil and fry the bacon crisp while you peel, halve and slice the onions into half-moons. Tie the herbs together with string. Peel and chop the garlic. Add the onions to the bacon with the herbs. Stir occasionally and cook for about 15 minutes until the onions turn sloppy. Add the garlic, cook for a couple of minutes then tip the contents of the pan over the sausages

2. Dust the chicken with the flour. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan and brown the chicken in batches. Return all the chicken to the pan, then pour in the wine, stirring so that the flour thickens the juices. Let it bubble for a couple of minutes, then add the stock, sausages and onion and simmer, giving the odd stir, for 5 minutes

3. Put in the tomatoes, beans, lemon juice, and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, give a final stir and remove from the heat. Carefully drape a sheet of baking parchment over the top letting it rest on the food. Catch the edges of the paper with the lid. Cook on a middle shelf in the oven for 60 minutes

4. Stir well, taste the juices and adjust the seasoning. Chop the parsley, stir it in and serve