Chicken with Smoky Devilled Beans

This is a cross between two of my favourite winter recipes; quick cassoulet and Boston baked beans. I use the beans (cooked without the chicken) for breakfast with a poached egg, as a side dish with lamb, pork and sausages or topped with grilled halloumi.

2 tablespoons olive oil small knob butter 6 chicken drumsticks

6 bone-in chicken thighs, skin on

1 onion, diced 1 carrot, grated 2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon dry English mustard

1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 each 400-gram tin cannellini beans and butter beans, drained and rinsed

400-gram tin cherry tomatoes

1 cup chicken stock

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

chopped parsley, to serve Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Heat a large sauté pan with the oil and butter and brown the chicken on all sides. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Add the onion, carrot, garlic and rosemary to the pan, season and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, both mustards, brown sugar and paprika and cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in the beans, then add the tomatoes and stock and season. Tip into a large ovenproof baking dish then nestle the chicken pieces into the beans. Bake for 30–40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

To serve: Scatter with the chopped parsley and serve with a loaf of good crusty bread. Serves 4–6