Quick coq au vin

Quick is relative, because this still takes an hour to make. But it's quicker than doing it the traditional way, which takes for-ever.

Adapted (slightly) from The Kitchn

kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
6-8 large (about 3 pounds) chicken thighs, skin on
3/4 cup (about 1 ounce) dried wild mushrooms (I used way more than this -- I just used the whole package)
1/2 cup (about 4 ounces) chopped bacon
1 large onion chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, cut into large bite-size pieces
5 large cloves garlic, peeled and gently smashed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups dry, fruity red wine (zinfandel, burgundy)
1 cup chicken stock
2 bay leaves
4 whole sprigs fresh thyme

Lightly sprinkle the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Place the dried mushrooms in a small bowl and pour enough boiling water over to just cover. (I used a cup)
Over medium heat in a 4-6 quart (large enough to accommodate the chicken) deep skillet or dutch oven with a lid, brown the bacon, about 5-7 minutes. Add the onions and cook another minute, until onions begin to soften. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the chicken, skin side down, and cook, turning the pieces as they brown on each side, about 10 minutes total. Drain off any excess fat.
Add the carrots, crushed garlic, tomato paste, wine, chicken stock, bay leaves, and thyme. Lower the heat, so that the liquid just barely simmers. Cover and cook about 20-30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer reads 160° F.
Remove the chicken pieces to a platter. Skim any excess fat off the top of the liquid. Remove the mushrooms from their liquid and add them to the pot. Pour the mushroom liquid through a fine sieve or cheese cloth into the pot. Turn the heat up to boil the mixture and cook until the sauce is reduced by a third to a half, about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and thyme.
A few minutes before serving, put the chicken pieces back into the sauce to re-heat. Serve each chicken thigh topped with a ladleful of sauce

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