Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
2. 1 pound large shallots, peeled, root ends cut with an X
3. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
4. One 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. 1/2 cup chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
7. 1 teaspoon thyme
8. 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
9. 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

1. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the shallots and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a plate.
2. Melt the butter in the skillet. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet skin side down and cook, turning once, until browned, about 12 minutes; transfer the chicken to a plate. Discard the fat. 
3. Return the chicken to the skillet with the shallots, stock and thyme. Cover and cook over moderately low heat for 20 minutes. Transfer the wings, drumsticks and any soft shallots to a platter. Cover and cook the rest of the sauté for another 5 minutes. Transfer the remaining chicken and shallots to the platter. Skim the fat from the pan juices, season with salt and pepper and pour over the chicken. Sprinkle with the parsley, garnish with the lemon wedges and serve.

Serve With

Buckwheat groats, also known as kasha. Use some of the rendered chicken fat to sauté the kasha before boiling it. Or serve couscous.