In French cuisine, chicken is a very diverse and popular ingredient that can be paired with almost any sauce to create a rich layer of flavor. The classic French sauce not only enhances the flavor of the chicken, but also makes it more delicate and complex. Here are some of the most iconic French sauces that pair perfectly with chicken for an unbeatable and delicious experience.
1. White wine cream sauce
Classic and widely used on the French table, this sauce is especially suitable with chicken breasts or thighs. Its main ingredients are white wine, cream, chicken stock and onion, and the taste is rich and smooth, with a hint of wine and milk.
How to pair:
- Chicken stew in white wine: Chicken is simmered with herbs, onions, and white wine, and cream is added at the end to create a mellow sauce that makes the chicken more tender.
- Fried Chicken Breast with White Wine Cream Sauce: Fry the chicken breast until golden brown, then add white wine, cream, and chicken stock to give the sauce a rich and layered sauce.
2. Vanilla butter sauce
Vanilla butter sauce is one of the most classic sauces in French cuisine, made mainly from butter, herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, tarragon, etc.) and minced garlic. The smooth texture of butter combined with the fresh flavor of vanilla brings out the deliciousness of the chicken.
How to pair:
- Herb Butter Grilled Chicken: Spread the herb butter sauce on the surface of the chicken and bake it in the oven to soak the butter into the meat, giving the chicken a fragrant and rich flavor.
- Fried Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce: Fry the chicken until lightly crispy on both sides, then add the herb butter sauce to melt the sauce on top of the chicken and enhance the overall flavor.
3. Mushroom cream sauce
Mushroom cream sauce is another popular French sauce that has a rich mushroom flavor and goes well with a variety of chicken dishes. The main ingredients of the sauce include cream, mushrooms, white wine, and chicken stock, which when paired with chicken, it has a rich milky flavor and the natural aroma of mushrooms.
How to pair:
- Chicken stew with mushroom cream: The chicken is simmered with shiitake mushrooms or other mushrooms, and then cream and white wine are added to allow the chicken to absorb the rich flavor of the mushrooms and cream.
- Pan-fried chicken breast with mushroom cream sauce: After frying the chicken breast, add sliced mushrooms, cream, and chicken stock and slowly cook until rich to add a rich texture to the chicken.
4. Mustard
Mustard is a slightly spicy and sour French sauce made primarily of mustard, white wine and cream for a unique flavor that enhances the freshness of the chicken without overshadowing the flavor of the chicken itself. It is especially suitable with chicken thighs or chicken breasts with skin.
How to pair:
- Grilled chicken thighs with mustard: Chicken thighs are slathered in a layer of mustard sauce and grilled with olive oil and herbs, and the sour and spicy mustard flavor complements the aroma of the grilled chicken.
- Chicken breast with wasabi cream: When frying chicken breast, add mustard sauce and cream to allow the chicken to absorb the acidity of wasabi and the smooth texture of cream, resulting in a strong flavor
.jpg)