Tarragon Poached Chicken Recipes

POACHED CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim any rib meat and fat from the breasts. Cut breasts into 2 pieces, removing strip of cartilage that joins halves.
• Select a pan that will just hold the breasts when they are placed close together.
• Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and white pepper, arrange them presentation side up.
• Add wine, chicken stock, bay leaf, thyme, and dried tarragon.
• Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the pan you are using, rub butter on it. Place it butter side down on top of chicken mixture.
• Bring liquid to a simmer and reduce the temperature to just below simmering (this is poaching temperature).
• Allow chicken to cook through (about 7 minutes or until no longer pink in the middle). Remove chicken from pan.
• Turn temperature up until remaining liquid is boiling. Allow to reduce for a minute or two.
• Meanwhile mix 1 oz of butter and 1 oz of flour into a paste (this is called beurre manie).
• Once the liquid in the pan has reduced a little, whisk in the beurre manie, and bring back to a boil.
• Once liquid has thickened, add cream, and continue whisking until desired thickness.
• Strain liquid through cheese cloth, and serve over chicken breasts, with a sprig of tarragon.

DIJON TARRAGON CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Bring 2 cans chicken broth to a boil. Add chicken to the broth, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Poach chicken 12 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and pour broth into a large measuring cup or batter bowl. Return the pan to heat and add butter. When butter melts, add flour and cook, whisking with butter, 2 minutes. Slowly pour cooking liquid back into the pan, until appropriately thickened, combining with a whisk. Stir in Dijon mustard and tarragon and season sauce with salt and pepper. Return chicken to the pan and coat with sauce. Simmer 2 or 3 minutes to heat chicken back through and to combine flavors. Serve with rice pilaf, and roasted squash vegetable medley.

CASSEROLE-POACHED CHICKEN W/ WHITE WINE TARRAGON SAUCE (JULIA CH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325, then cook the onions and carrots on the stovetop (in a casserole just large enough to hold the whole chicken) in 2 T butter until vegetables are tender but not brown.
• Rub the outside of the bird with 1.5T of the butter and place the other 1.5 T inside the bird. Sprinkle the outside with half of the salt and tarragon and the inside with the other half. Truss and arrange the chicken breast-side-up on top of the sauteed vegetables in the casserole.
• Pour the wine into the casserole and add enough of the chicken broth to reach about 1/3 of the way up the chicken. Add the herbs and giblets. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Drape the damp cheesecloth over the breast and thighs. It should be long enough to fall into the liquid on either side so that is will draw the broth over the chicken and basted it during the cooking. Smear remaining butter over cheesecloth and top with a layer of waxed paper. Cover casserole and set in the preheated oven.
• Bake chicken for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Watch to make sure that the liquid remains at a very soft simmer and adjust temperature accordingly if needed. When chicken is done (juices should run clear), remove chicken to a platter and strain the cooking juices. Return one cup of the stock to the casserole with the chicken. Cover to keep warm while you prepare the sauce.
• For sauce: Melt butter in saucepan, blend in flour with a wooden spoon and stir over moderate heat until butter and flour foam together for 2 minutes without browning. Remove from heat and as soon as it stops bubbling, add 2 cups of the hot chicken stock,, blending vigorously with a wire whisk.when smooth, set over moderate heat and stir slowly as sauce thickens and comes to a boil. Boil, stirring for 2 minutes. Sauce will be quite thick.
• Pour in 1/3 cup of the cream and add successive spoonfuls until sauce thins out but is still thick enough to lightly coat a spoon. Check seasoning and add salt, white pepper and lemon juice to taste. Just before serving beat in the remaining 2 T butter.
• Carve the chicken and top with the sauce.

POACHED CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breasts into strips. Bring the broth to a boil and add the chicken breasts. Turn down to a simmer and simmer for 6-8 minutes In a seperate pan boil the cream and tarragon for 4-5 mins to thicken. Add the poached chicken to the sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with extra tarragon. I love this served with rice.