What is a Poulet Chicken? An Overview of this Classic French Dish

Poulet is the French word for chicken. So at first glance, poulet chicken may seem redundant. However, in French cuisine, poulet refers to a specific style of preparing chicken. Here’s an overview of this classic French dish known as poulet.

What is Poulet?

Poulet (poo-LAY) is a French recipe for baked or roasted chicken. It typically consists of a whole chicken or chicken pieces that are seasoned covered with a sauce and baked in the oven. The term poulet is used to distinguish this dish from other chicken preparations like chicken fricassee, sautéed chicken, or chicken stew.

Some key features of poulet chicken include

• Whole chicken or chicken pieces (legs, thighs, breasts)
• Seasoned with herbs like thyme, rosemary, etc.
• Covered with a sauce like wine, cream, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.
• Baked in the oven, resulting in moist, tender chicken

History and Origins

Poulet has been a fixture of French cuisine for centuries. People in France raised chickens and cooked them in pots with vegetables and broth in the Middle Ages. As cooking techniques got better, roasted and baked chicken dishes got fancier.

In the 1700s and 1800s, the word “poulet” became popular. Baked chicken dishes were served in wealthy homes and were thought to be fancy food. The poulet cooking method kept the chicken juicy and let the sauce flavors soak in.

As time went on, French people came to love baked chicken dishes like poulet as a Sunday family meal or holiday dish. It remains well-loved today as a comforting, versatile recipe.

Popular Variations

There are many classic poulet dishes that have stood the test of time:

• Poulet au Vin Jaune is French chicken baked with white wine and onions from the Jura region.

• Poulet Chasseur: Chicken braised with tomatoes, mushrooms, shallots, white wine.

• Poulet Basquaise: Chicken stewed with peppers, tomatoes, garlic from the Basque region.

• Poulet Provençal: Chicken baked with tomatoes, olives, garlic, herbs from Provence.

• Poulet Marengo: Chicken along with tomatoes, garlic, fried eggs – named after Napoleon’s victory.

• Poulet à la Normande: Chicken baked with cream, mushrooms, apples, Calvados.

• Poulet aux Morilles: Chicken with morel cream sauce, for special occasions.

The variations are endless, but they all have in common chicken pieces baked or braised with some type of sauce. Feel free to get creative with different herbs, vegetables, cream or broth-based sauces.

How to Make Poulet at Home

Making poulet at home is easy. Here are some simple tips:

• Choose good quality chicken pieces with the skin on – this keeps the meat juicy. Chicken thighs and drumsticks work very well.

• Pat the chicken dry and season all over with salt, pepper and herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano.

• Sear the chicken on both sides to get a nice golden brown color. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.

• Prepare your sauce of choice – wine, cream, tomatoes etc. Transfer seared chicken to a baking dish and cover with the sauce.

• Bake the poulet in a 375°F oven for 30-40 minutes until completely cooked through.

• Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end if you want crispy, browned skin.

• Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before serving over rice, pasta or potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce! Enjoy this classic poulet chicken.

Why is Poulet Chicken Popular in France?

There are several reasons why poulet remains popular in French cuisine:

• Enhances flavor – The sauce complements and tenderizes the chicken. Baking keeps it very moist.

• Easy preparation – Poulet can be assembled quickly and then cooked unattended in the oven. Great for weeknight meals.

• Versatile – Almost any sauce can be used from wine to cream to tomatoes. Chicken also pairs well with many veggies.

• Comfort food – The baked chicken and sauce is satisfying comfort food, ideal for family meals.

• Affordable – Chicken is usually an economical meat option compared to beef or lamb.

• Tradition – Poulet recipes have been passed down for generations in France. They are nostalgic, hearty dishes.

Next time you want to add more French flair to your dinner table, consider making a poulet chicken recipe. With so many possibilities, there’s a poulet dish for every taste and occasion.