Poached Chicken Chicken Breast Rick Bayless Food

HOW TO MAKE PERFECTLY POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a small, heavy-bottomed pot. Make sure they fit in a single layer. Cover the chicken with broth or water. Add the herbs and bay leaf.
• Begin heating the pot over medium heat, giving the liquid an occasional stir. Once the water temperature reaches 175 to 180, reduce the heat to low so that the water maintains this temperature.
• Partly cover with the pot lid and cook for 10 minutes.
• Turn off the heat completely and allow the chicken to remain in the hot liquid for about 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the breasts reaches 155 F.
• Remove and slice or shred the chicken. The meat should be cooked through and opaque throughout.
• Serve and enjoy.

POACHED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Tip the carrot, celery and garlic into a large saucepan. Tie the herbs together in a bunch with a piece of kitchen string, then add to the pan with the chicken breasts, water and 2 tsp salt (adding a little more water if it doesn't quite cover the chicken). Bring to the boil, then immediately lower to a simmer and cook over a very low heat for 10-12 mins, or until the juices run clear in the thickest part of the breast.
• Remove the pan from the heat and scoop out the chicken breasts from the poaching liquid. Slice or tear the chicken into pieces and use in salads, soups or sandwiches.

GUAJILLO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Set a heavy ungreased skillet or griddle over medium heat, lay the unpeeled garlic on the hot surface and let it roast to a sweet mellowness, turning occasionally until soft when pressed, a few small spots will blacken, about 15 minutes. Cool, slip off skins and roughly chop.
• While the garlic is roasting break the stems off chilies, tear chilies open and remove seeds, for the mildest sauce remove all stringy light colored veins. Finish and remove garlic if you haven't done so. Toast the chilies a few at a time on your medium-hot skillet. Open them flat, lay them on the hot surface skin side up and press flat with a metal spatula (if the temperature is right you will hear a faint crackle), then flip them and do the same (If you press them just long enough they will have changed to a mottled tan underneath, a wisp of smoke is OK but any more than that then there burnt). Transfer chilies to a bowl and cover with hot water and let rehydrate for 30 minutes, pour off all water and discard.
• In a food processor or blender add chilies, garlic, oregano, pepper and cumin, add 2/3 cup of the broth and process to a smooth puree, scraping and stirring every few seconds (In a blender you may need to add a little more broth until everything is moving). With a rubber spatula, work the puree through a medium mesh strainer into a bowl, discard skins and seeds left in the strainer.
• Heat oil in a medium-sized pot (4 quart) over medium heat, when hot enough to make a drop of the puree sizzle sharply add the puree all at once. Cook stirring constantly, as the puree sears, reduces and darkens to an attractive earthy brick red paste, usually about 7 minutes, taste it: You'll know it is done when it has lost that harsh raw-chili edge.
• Stir in remaining 3 cups of broth, partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes. If the sauce has thickened past the consistency of a light cream soup, add more broth. Taste and season with salt and sugar - Salt to brighten and focus the flavors, sugar to smooth any rough or bitter chili edges.
• Covered and refrigerated the sauce will last about a week. If you freeze it you will need to re-boil it to bring back the lovely texture.
• Other chilies you can use - An equal amount of New Mexico chillies can replace the quajillo, the sauce will not be as full flavored; a chipotle or two adds complexity.

POACHED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil.
• Add chicken breast.
• Turn down the heat and simmer for 12 minutes.
• Take off the heat and let them sit for at least 15 minutes.
• Add to recipe as needed.

POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Use as many chicken breasts as you need for dinner.
• Preheat oven at 350F or 180°C Remove skin & bone, cut into 2 parts and place in baking dish.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice and dot with butter.
• Salt to taste.
• Cover closely and bake about 15 minutes.
• Do not overcook; pierce with fork to be sure thickest part is done. If your chicken is cold, then the outside may cook slightly faster than the inside.
• Use pan juices as a sauce.

POACHED CHICKEN (CHICKEN BREAST) - RICK BAYLESS

Steps:

• Place onion, water, and salt in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Add the chicken (plus addtional hot water to cover, if necessary), skim off any new foam that rises during the first minute of simmering, add herbs and bay leaves, partially cover and simmer for 13 minutes over medium heat.
• Remove the pot from the heat and let the checken cool in the broth, if there is time.
• Skin and bone the chicken, then shred the meat into small pieces, Sprinkle with salt before using, unless directed otherwise in your recipe.

MEXICAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium- high heat.
• Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and 1 tablespoons chili powder.
• Lay in the hot oil in a single layer.
• Cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip over and cook the other side for the same length of time.
• Remove to a plate, leaving behind as much oil as possible.
• When cool enough to handle, cut into 1-inch cubes.
• Add the onion and rice to the pot.
• Cook, stirring, 2 minutes, until the rice is opaque.
• Add the garlic and remaining chili powder.
• Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add the broth and bring to a boil, stirring.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover.
• Cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the chicken and beans and cook, covered, for 12 minutes.
• Uncover and sprinkle on the green onions.
• Test the rice to see if it is done.
• If not, cook for another 5 minutes.
• Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to finish steaming the rice.
• Fluff the rice mixture with a fork.
• Serve with salsa or hot sauce.

GRILLED ROADSIDE CHICKEN WITH KNOB ONIONS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients.
• Heat one side of a bass grill to medium. If you have a grill with charcoal, let it burn until the charcoal is covered with white ash and about medium hot.
• While the grill is heating remove the giblets (if there are any) from the cavity of the chicken. Flip the chicken onto its breast. using poultry shears, cut down both sides of the backbone from tail to neck; discard backbone (or sometimes I save to make homemade stock!).
• Open the bird onto your work surface, breast side up. Make sure that the legs returned inward. Using your fist or mallet, wallop the bird on the breast, hard enough to dislodge the bones and flatten out the breast. (Reserve a little to baste with while cooking.
• Smear both slides of the chicken with the marinade. Lay over indirect heat on the grill. Cook, basting from time to time with remaining marinade until the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced deeply with a fork. If cooking on a gas grill, it will take about 45 minutes, if only a charcoal grill more like 1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on size of chicken.
• About 10 minutes before the chicken is ready, put the knob onions on the grill, turning frequently until softened and browned.

MEXICAN ROASTED OR BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Defrost the chicken, if necessary, and remove the neck, liver, giblets, and excess fat. Rinse if needed, then place in the pot. If you prefer a lower-fat version, you can remove the skin and most of the fat from the bird, but the flavor will suffer (you can always skim the fat from the cooking liquid, later).
• Preheat the oven to 320°F.
• In a small bowl, combine the achiote, comino (cumin), oregano, and lime juice, then use the back of a spoon to mash into a thick marinade or thin paste.
• Place some of the marinade in the chicken and work it around inside, then pour the rest over the chicken and cover the skin.
• If you are braising in the oven, you may need to add a 1/2 cup of water, depending on the type of bird. Try it the first time you make the recipe, and you can leave it out, later, if you don't want the additional liquid. You do NOT need to add the water, if you cook this in the a slow cooker.
• If the lid for your pot has any holes, or there are any gaps between the lid and pan (or crock), cover the lid with foil so it seals tightly.
• The chicken will need to cook 2 1/2-3 hours. Check the temperature at the thickest parts and remove when the chicken is done (approx 170, a bit lower, if you want to finish the chicken on the stove top). If you want to brighten up the dish a bit and restore a sour bite, add another 1/4 cup of lime juice a couple of minutes before serving.

CHICKEN ENCHILADA SUIZAS (RICK BAYLESS)

Steps:

• For fresh tomatoes: Roast the tomatoes and chiles on a baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler, until they're darkly roasted (they'll be blackened in spots), about 6 minutes. Flip them over and roast the other side-5 or 6 minutes more will give you splotchy-black and blistered tomatoes that are cooked through. Cool. Working over your baking sheet, pull off and discard the blackened tomato skins and, for round tomatoes, cut out the hard "cores" where the stems were attached. Transfer tomatoes and chiles to a food processor or blender, along with all the juices on the baking sheet. Blend to a smooth puree.
• For canned tomatoes: In a small dry skillet, roast the chiles over medium heat, turning regularly, until they're soft and splotchy-black, about 5 minutes. Place in a blender or food processor along with the drained canned tomatoes. Blend to a smooth puree.
• In a medium-size (4- or 5-quart) pot (preferably a Dutch oven or Mexican cazuela), heat the oil or lard over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until golden, about 7 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high, and, when noticeably hotter, stir in the tomato puree. Cook, stirring, until darker in color and thickened to the consistency of tomato paste, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the broth, partially cover and simmer 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon. The sauce should be a slightly soupy consistency-not as thick as spaghetti sauce. If it is too thick, stir in a little additional broth. Keep warm over low heat.
• Other preliminaries. Stir the crema (or one of its stand-ins) into the sauce. Put the chicken in a bowl and stir 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture into it. Taste and season with additional salt if you think it needs it. Have the cheese at the ready.
• Heat the oven to 350°. Smear about 1/4 cup of the sauce over the bottom of 4 to 6 nine-inch individual ovenproof baking/serving dishes or smear about 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish. Lay the tortillas out on a baking sheet (2 sheets if you have them, for more even heating), and lightly brush or spray both sides of the tortillas with oil. Bake just to warm through and soften, about 3 minutes. Stack the tortillas and cover with a towel to keep warm.
• Working quickly so the tortillas stay hot and pliable, roll a portion of the chicken into each tortilla, then line them all up in the baking dishes. Douse evenly with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the enchiladas are hot through (the cheese will have begun to brown), about 15 minutes. Garnish with onion rings and cilantro sprigs. These are best served piping hot from the oven.
• MAKE AHEAD The sauce can be made a day or two ahead; refrigerate covered. Once the tortillas have been heated in the oven, you need to work quickly and steadily toward serving in order to preserve their beautiful texture. Once out of the oven, the finished dish softens to near mush over a period of 15 to 20 minutes.