Indulge in the delectable flavors of poached chicken, a versatile dish with endless possibilities. Whether you're seeking a classic poached chicken recipe for salads or exploring creative variations like poached chicken with flavorful marinades, aromatic herbs, or tantalizing sauces, this article has it all. Discover step-by-step instructions, cooking tips, and serving suggestions to elevate your culinary skills and impress your taste buds. From traditional poached chicken to innovative flavor combinations, let's embark on a culinary journey that will transform your salads and meals into extraordinary experiences.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
THE BEST CHICKEN SALAD
Gently poaching chicken breasts in an aromatic broth yields tender morsels for folding into a bright and herby homemade dressing. Serve it solo on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes or in half an avocado. It also makes a killer chicken club sandwich topped with crisp bacon and other sandwich fixings.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, 1 tablespoon salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.
- Toss together the chicken, celery, shallot, dill and parsley in a large bowl.
- Add the dressing to the chicken and mix gently until combined. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight to meld flavors. Garnish with chives.
- Put the parsley, thyme, onion, carrot, celery and chicken breasts in a medium saucepan. Cover with the broth and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to very low and cover. Poach the chicken until firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, uncover and cool the chicken in the liquid for 30 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and reserve the liquid. Bone and skin the chicken and roughly chop the meat into about 1/2-inch pieces. Discard the bones and skin.
- Strain the broth and store, covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze for later use. Remove any fat from the surface of the broth before using.
BEST CHICKEN SALAD
The secret here isn't in the seasonings (though the tarragon and sour cream make it pretty wonderful) but in the texture of the chicken, described as "plush" by the chef Barbara Tropp in her "China Moon" cookbook. She incorporated Chinese methods and flavors to her cooking, including this foolproof method for poaching chicken breasts without overcooking. It makes a chicken salad that's perfect for sandwiches (especially on dark rye or sourdough breads) or scooped onto a lettuce-lined plate with sliced radishes, tomatoes, crackers, grapes or all of the above. The chicken breasts used here must be bone-in, but you can remove the skin if you prefer. The skin and bones flavor the cooking liquid, providing a bonus of several pints of chicken stock.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, main course
Time 6h20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Choose a heavy pot or Dutch oven with a tightfitting lid. It should be large enough to hold the chicken snugly, but not much bigger. Fill pot about 2/3 full with cold water, but don't put the chicken in yet. Boil some extra water in a teakettle.
- Add scallions and peppercorns to water, cover and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off heat and slip chicken pieces into the hot water. If needed, add boiling water from the kettle to cover chicken with water by 2 inches. Replace the lid and let chicken rest in the hot water for about 2 hours. Do not turn the flame back on: The pot will retain enough heat to cook chicken thoroughly and safely. (To test, cut into 1 piece of chicken and check the meat near the bone. If it is still pink, return the pot to low heat, bring the water to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes more.)
- Lift chicken out of the pot. Remove and discard bones, skin and fat. Pat the meat dry with paper towels, then cut or shred into small bite-size pieces and transfer to a bowl. (Meanwhile, simmer cooking liquid until tasty, strain and refrigerate or freeze to use as chicken stock.)
- In a bowl, whisk together juice of 1/2 lemon, mayonnaise and sour cream. If using, whisk in mustard or brine. Taste and adjust the seasonings and thickness to your liking. Pour over chicken, scraping the bowl clean with a rubber spatula.
- Add celery, onion if using, nuts, herbs and salt and pepper. Toss gently but thoroughly. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle with herbs before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1112, UnsaturatedFat 54 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 77 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 96 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 1300 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
POACHED CHICKEN (FOR CHICKEN SALADS)
Make and share this Poached Chicken (For Chicken Salads) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Oolala
Categories Stocks
Time 22m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine all in a 3 quart saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and skim.
- Whole breasts take 15-18 minutes while boneless breasts take 7-10.
- *Allow to cool in the liquid COMPLETELY.
- Drain and dice the chicken to use in salads or pot pies.
- Reserve poaching liquid as a stock.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 276.3, Fat 13.5, SaturatedFat 3.9, Cholesterol 92.8, Sodium 129.2, Carbohydrate 6.3, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 2.9, Protein 30.9
POACHED-CHICKEN-SALAD SANDWICHES
Cooking chicken breasts slowly in simmering water ensures they'll be tender, not rubbery. Onion and salt in the water add flavor without fat. If you have them on hand, you can also toss in a bay leaf, lemon peel, or whole peppercorns to add even more flavor to these Poached-Chicken-Salad Sandwiches.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large straight-sided skillet or pot, cover chicken and onion with water by 1/2 inch; season generously with salt. Bring to a boil over high; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and let stand, covered, until chicken is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer should read 160 degrees), 12 to 14 minutes. Remove chicken from water and let cool completely. (To store, refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 3 days.)
- Shred chicken, then mix with walnuts, raisins, celery, red onion, mayonnaise, yogurt, and tarragon. Make sandwiches with bread and lettuce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 314 g, Fat 17 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 3 g
POACHED CHICKEN
Gently simmered with onion and garlic, this chicken becomes moist and tender as it absorbs the subtly flavored broth.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken
Yield Makes 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place chicken, breast side down, onion, garlic, and salt in a large pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove chicken from pot, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Let chicken stand until cool enough to handle. Shred meat, and mix with reserved cooking liquid.
Tips:
- Choose the right chicken: Look for a whole chicken that is plump and has a moist, pink color. Avoid chicken that is bruised or has any signs of spoilage.
- Prepare the chicken properly: Remove any giblets or excess fat from the chicken. Rinse the chicken inside and out with cold water and pat it dry.
- Use a large pot: You will need a large pot that is big enough to hold the chicken and enough water to cover it completely.
- Bring the water to a boil: Bring the water to a boil before adding the chicken. This will help to kill any bacteria on the chicken.
- Reduce the heat to low: Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the chicken simmer gently for 10-12 minutes per pound.
- Check the chicken: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the chicken cool: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool slightly before handling.
- Shred or slice the chicken: Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred or slice it into pieces. You can use the shredded chicken in salads, sandwiches, or wraps.