NOSTOS GRENACHE 2017 - MANOUSAKIS WINERY

2000 gr. rooster
For the Marinade
1200 ml. red dry wine
3 carrots
3 onions 
2-3 thyme sprouts
1 bay leaf
15 black peppercorns

For Cooking
2 onions
250 gr. champignon mushrooms, small
2 cloves of garlic
1 ripe tomato
6-7 sprigs of parsley
200 gr. smoked pancetta or bacon
250 ml. chicken broth
250 ml. red dry wine
100 ml. brandy or cognac
2 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of thyme
2 tablespoons of flour
Olive oil
Freshly ground pepper
Salt

Ask your butcher to cut the rooster in portions.After that, wash it and clean it from any leftover feathers.
Preparation
You should marinate the rooster for at least 24 hours, this will help the rooster meat soften even more! Pare the carrots and the onions and cut them into thick pieces. In a large basin, place the pieces of the rooster.
Add the carrots, onions, peppercorns, bay leaf and fresh thyme. Pour in the red wine, from which you must keep 1 cup for cooking. Let the rooster marinate, covered in the fridge.

For Cooking

Remove the rooster from the marinade and wipe it with absorbent paper to dry it completely. Remove the bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns.
Drain the marinade and keep the vegetables aside. In a deep frying pan, put 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to heat up. Saute the pieces of the rooster until they get a golden brown color. Move the rooster in a large saucepan, with a coarse bottom and put it on high heat. Pour in the brandy and when the alcohol evaporates, add the vegetables, which are sauteed for 2 minutes in the pan that you sauteed the rooster.
Add the sauteed garlic,the tomatoes cut in cubes, sugar, broth, thyme and the marinade. Simmer for about 2 hours until the meat is tender and the liquids are reduced to 1/4.
Cut the pancetta or bacon into cubes, saute until it gets color and add it to the saucepan. In the same pan, gently saute the mushrooms, the onions into slices and add them to the saucepan. Boil for about 5 minutes and add chopped parsley. Dissolve the flour in the wine, add it to the food and simmer another 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Leave the food for about 15-20 minutes to rest and then serve.

Eva Monochari

Food Blogger