Chicken with forty cloves of garlic

8 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
8Chicken legs (cut into
Drumsticks and thighs)
cupOlive oil
4Celery ribs, sliced thin
6Sprigs parsley
1tablespoonTarragon
½cupDry vermouth
teaspoonSalt
¼teaspoonPepper
teaspoonNutmeg
40Cloves of garlic, peeled

Directions

Rinse the chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Put the oil in a shallow dish or a plate and turn all the chicken pieces in the oil to coat all sides. Lay the celery slices in the bottom of a heavy 6-quart casserole with a tight fitting cover. Add the parsley and tarragon. Lay the chicken pieces on top and sprinkle with vermouth, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper and nutmeg. Pour the oil remaining in the plate into the casserole. Toss in all garlic and sprinkle with the remaining salt. Lay a piece of aluminum foil on top of the casserole, to make a tight seal. Set on the casserole lid. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 1½ hours without removing the lid. Serve with hot toast or thin slices of French bread or pumpernickel, spread with the softened buttery garlic cloves.