Lilydale Chicken Casserole

By Western Australia Lilydale Free Range Ambassador Tony Howell

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

6 Lilydale chicken thighs

2 Shallots, diced

4 Garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1 Carrot, diced

3 Sprigs of Thyme

2 Bay leaves

1 litre Chicken stock

Quartered Button Mushrooms

Handful Broad beans, blanched

Handful fresh peas

6 Asparagus spears

Chopped parsley

2 knobs butter chilled

Olive oil

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a casserole dish.

2. Seal the chicken on all sides, remove and set aside

3. Add shallots, garlic, carrot and mushrooms into the casserole and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

4. Add tomato and cook for another 4 minutes on medium-low heat, until there’s colour showing on the vegetables.

5. Add now the chicken thighs, herbs and season with salt and pepper. Cover with stock and bring to boil. Turn down the heat and simmer till cooked – this will take approximately 20 minutes.

6. Now add the spring vegetables – peas, broad beans and asparagus. These will only need a few minutes.

7. Just before serving, add the butter to thicken and smoothen texture. This dish is served fantastically with a creamy mash!