Hiking and Cooking in the South of France

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Duck legs en cocotte with carrots potatoes and onions

Preparation time:15min
Cooking time:150min
Total time:165min

The following very tasty recipe is perfect for those dark and rainy winter nights in the South of France. This is slow- cooking as the French have done for centuries. The aromatic scents emerging from the oven are enough to lift your spirits in those nights when you already start dreaming of next summer.

If you cannot find duck legs in your area, you could make this recipe with free- range chicken legs.

2 servings

2 duck legs, cuisses de canette
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 carrots
4- 5 new potatoes
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
200 ml red wine
100 ml tomato sauce
200 ml chicken stock
1 bouquet garni
Freshly ground black pepper

In a heavy casserole, cocotte, warm the olive oil over medium heat and fry duck legs on both sides until golden.

Preheat the oven to 180° C.

Add the onion and garlic to the casserole and continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Wash and slice the carrots, then add to the casserole. Add the washed new potatoes. Pour in the red wine, tomato sauce, and chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Add the bouquet garni and some black pepper.

Transfer the casserole to the oven and bake for 1,5- 2 hours. Check occasionally. Add some water if needed, and cover if the surface starts browning too much.

Risotto with tomatoes basil and chicken

Preparation time:15 min
Cooking time:30 min
Total time:45 min

This is a great variation of classic risotto. I would call this recipe risotto with Provençal twist as it includes roasted tomatoes and Provençal herbs. Chicken adds healthy protein and makes the dish a complete light dinner. The recipe is gluten free.

2 servings

2 organic chicken breasts, cut into about 2x2 cm chunks
2 tasty tomatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp dried Provençal herbs
A small handful of fresh basil
Freshly ground black pepper
2 portions classic risotto

For the classic risotto, I refer to the recipe: Seafood risotto with a twist. Just omit the lemon and replace the dill with basil.

First preheat the oven to 210° C, roast.

Coarsely chop the tomatoes into chunks and place them in an ovenproof dish in one layer. Sprinkle with Provençal herbs and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Roast for about 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside.

Start cooking the risotto in the classic way.

While you are cooking the risotto, fry the chicken pieces at the same time. It is nice if you can have someone to help you at this point by stirring the risotto! Warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cut the chicken breasts into about 2x2 cm chunks and fry them for about 15- 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is well- done but not dry. At this point the risotto should also be done as this takes about 25 minutes.

Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the parmesan, basil (save some for decoration), and black pepper. Fold in the tomato chunks.

Divide the risotto into bowls and place the chicken pieces on top. Decorate with basil.

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