According to a popular myth, the dish was first made after Napoleon defeated the Austrian army at the Battle of Marengo at Marengo south of Alessandria, Italy, when his chef Dunard foraged in the town for ingredients (because the supply wagons were too distant) and created the dish from what he could gather and eggs. According to this legend, Napoleon enjoyed the dish so much he had it served to him after every battle.

Chicken Marengo

Ingredients

• 4 chicken joints
• 45-60ml (3-4 tbsps) oil
• 2 carrots, pared and sliced
• 1 stick of celery, trimmed and chopped
• 1 onion, skinned and chopped
• 45ml (3 level tbsps) flour
• 300ml chicken stock
• 425g can tomatoes
• 30ml (2tbsps) kosher sherry
• salt and pepper
• bouquet garni
• 100g mushrooms, sliced
• chopped parsley

Method:

• Fry the chicken joints in the oil for about 5 minutes, remove them from the pan and put into a casserole.
• Fry the vegetables in the oil for about 5 minutes; remove them from the pan. Stir the flour into the
• remaining fat, cook for 2-3 minutes and gradually stir in the stock; bring to the boil and continue to stir
• until it thickens. Return the vegetables to the pan and add the tomatoes, sherry, salt and pepper. Pour
• this sauce over the chicken joints, add the bouquet garni and slice mushrooms and cook in the oven at
• 180C mark 4 for ¾ -1 hour