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Poulet Gaston Gérard

A classic Burgundian chicken masterpiece baked to perfection in a rich, creamy white wine and Dijon mustard sauce under a beautifully gratinéed Comté cheese crust.

60 min Easy Francesa 4 servings
Poulet Gaston Gérard

The story behind

Let me tell you, this recipe has one of the most delightful histories in French cuisine! The very first time I tried authentic poulet Gaston Gérard was during a cozy dinner in Dijon. I was intrigued by the name and asked the host about it. He told me that back in 1930, the wife of the city's mayor (Gaston Gérard) was cooking chicken for a famous food critic when she accidentally dropped a jar of mustard into the pot! To save the dish, she quickly added white wine, heavy cream, and Comté cheese... and the critic loved it so much he named it after the mayor. I absolutely love making this when friends come over on a chilly evening; the aroma that fills the entire house while it bakes is purely magical. It is phenomenal if you pair it with roasted baby potatoes or a smooth potato purée to soak up every drop of that heavenly mustard sauce. Pour yourself a chilled glass of dry Burgundian white wine, and you have an instant fine-dining experience right at home.

Instructions

  1. 1
    Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and cracked black pepper on all sides.
  2. 2
    In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat and sear the chicken until the skin turns beautifully crisp and golden brown; transfer pieces to an oval baking dish.
  3. 3
    In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium and pour in the white wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the rich browned bits stuck to the bottom.
  4. 4
    Let the wine reduce by half, then stir in the Dijon mustard and heavy cream, whisking gently until you get a smooth, velvety sauce base.
  5. 5
    Pour this warm creamy sauce directly over the seared chicken pieces in your baking dish, coating them evenly.
  6. 6
    Scatter a generous layer of shredded Comté cheese on top, and finish with a tiny dust of paprika to replicate that gorgeous hue seen in Poulet Gaston Gérard.jpg.
  7. 7
    Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and the cheese on top is perfectly melted, bubbling, and deeply golden-brown.

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