Crock-Pot Chicken, Barley and Leeks Recipe
Photo: Ryan Szulc
Serves 6 to 8
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or 4 full chicken legs
1 tsp. salt
Lots of freshly ground pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
A few splashes of vegetable oil
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup barley
4 large leeks (white and pale-green parts only), trimmed and halved lengthwise
4 to 6 cups homemade chicken broth, a low-sodium store-bought substitute or water
2 or 3 bay leaves
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Leaves from 10 or 12 sprigs of fresh thyme, chopped
Directions
Generously season the chicken and thoroughly dredge it in the flour, shaking off the excess. Splash a few spoonfuls of oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until fully browned and thoroughly crispy. Transfer to a plate when cooked.
Pour the wine into the sizzling pan and stir loose every single bit of browned flavor. Pour into your slow cooker. Top with an even layer of barley. Neatly nestle in the leeks, and cover with the browned chicken. Add the chicken broth, wine, bay leaves and garlic. Cook on any setting until the chicken is tender and the barley is cooked, 6 to 8 hours, or more, depending on your slow cooker.
At the appointed hour, fish out the bay leaves and stir in the fresh thyme.
From Make Ahead Meals. Copyright © Michael Smith 2015. Reprinted by permission of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Photography credit: Ryan Szulc.
Ingredients
Directions
Generously season the chicken and thoroughly dredge it in the flour, shaking off the excess. Splash a few spoonfuls of oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until fully browned and thoroughly crispy. Transfer to a plate when cooked.
Pour the wine into the sizzling pan and stir loose every single bit of browned flavor. Pour into your slow cooker. Top with an even layer of barley. Neatly nestle in the leeks, and cover with the browned chicken. Add the chicken broth, wine, bay leaves and garlic. Cook on any setting until the chicken is tender and the barley is cooked, 6 to 8 hours, or more, depending on your slow cooker.
At the appointed hour, fish out the bay leaves and stir in the fresh thyme.
From Make Ahead Meals. Copyright © Michael Smith 2015. Reprinted by permission of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Photography credit: Ryan Szulc.
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