Quick coq au vin | Taste of France®

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp duck fat or butter
• 2 celery sticks (quartered)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 2 carrots (chopped)
• 4 garlic cloves (finely grated)
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• ½ tsp table salt
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 whole large chicken (jointed into 8 pieces)
• 250 g 9 oz, 1½ cups smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1 cm (3½ in) lardons
• 250 g 9 oz, 2½ cups button mushrooms, halved if large
• 200 g 7 oz, 1½ cups small shallots, halved if large
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 750 ml bottle white wine
• 3 bay leaves
• ½ bunch of fresh thyme
• 500 ml 17.5 fl oz, 2 cups good-quality chicken stock
• 2 tsp cornflour (optional)
• ½ bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley (leaves chopped)