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Classically inspired and with plenty of comfort-food appeal, tonight’s recipe is winter cooking done right. We're serving chicken with buttery mashed potatoes and a hearty sauté of mushrooms and kale. (Depending on what's best near you, your kale may be dark green Lacinato or lighter green curly.) Rich crème fraîche and tangy verjus—the juice of young wine grapes—brings it all together, while fresh thyme makes for a rustic, woodsy finish.

Ethan Mick

with Kale, Mushrooms & Verjus

Seared Chicken & Mashed Potatoes

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs

Red Potatoes

Cremini Mushrooms

Kale

Thyme

All-Purpose Flour

Butter

Crème Fraîche

Verjus Blanc

Ingredients

Wash and dry the fresh produce. [Heat a small pot of salted water to boiling on high.](#) Large dice [the potatoes.](#) Thinly slice the mushrooms. [Remove and discard the kale stems; roughly chop the leaves.](#) Pick the thyme leaves off the stems; discard the stems and roughly chop the leaves.

Prepare the ingredients:

Add the **potatoes** to the pot of boiling water and cook 13 to 15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Add the **butter**. Using a fork, mash to your desired consistency; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in a warm place.

Cook & mash the potatoes:

While the potatoes cook, place the **flour** on a plate. Pat the **chicken** dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. Thoroughly coat the seasoned chicken in the flour (tapping off any excess). In a large, high-sided pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the coated chicken and cook 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate and set aside in a warm place.

Coat & cook the chicken:

Add the **mushrooms** to the pan of reserved fond. (If the pan seems dry, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil.) Cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until browned and softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Brown the mushrooms:

Add the **kale**, **verjus**, **crème fraîche** and **½ cup of water** to the pan (be careful, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any fond from the bottom of the pan, 3 to 5 minutes, or until the kale has wilted and the liquid has cooked off.

Add the kale:

Add the **cooked chicken** and **up to half the thyme** to the pan; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the finished chicken and vegetables and mashed potatoes between 2 dishes. Garnish with **as much of the remaining thyme as you’d like**. Enjoy!