Poached Cucumbers With Marrow Food

POACHED CUCUMBERS WITH MARROW

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers and remove seeds. Hollow out slightly to make boat. Trim bottom to make cucumbers stand flat, if necessary. Poach in salted water for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender-firm. Drain and set aside, but keep warm.
• Gently poach marrow bone in boiling water to barely cover, one and one-half to two minutes. Marrow should remain pink. Carefully remove marrow from bone with grapefruit knife. Set aside.
• Heat brown sauce.
• Coat 10 small plates with brown sauce, reserving enough to place one teaspoon in cavity of each cucumber boat. Place one slice of marrow on top.

QUICK POACHED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• In an 11x7-in. microwave-safe dish coated with cooking spray, combine the first 6 ingredients. Microwave, uncovered, on high until mixture comes to a boil, 2-3 minutes., Carefully add salmon to dish. Cover and microwave at 70% power until fish flakes easily with a fork, 5 to 5-1/2 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, cucumber, onion, salt and basil. Remove salmon from poaching liquid. Serve with sauce.

POACHED CHICKEN, CRUNCHY VEGETABLES, AND HERB DRESSING

Steps:

• For the dressing:
• Drain and rinse the almonds in fresh cold water, then pound them with the herbs, the garlic clove and a little salt. Slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture, stirring to combine.
• For the chicken:
• Put the chicken breasts into a pan of cold water with the reserved herb stalks (from the dressing), the garlic and the salt. Bring the water to a simmer, turn off the heat and immediately cover the pan. Allow the chicken to sit in the hot poaching liquor for 20 minutes, until cooked through.
• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil and blanch the green beans for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, then cool under cold running water. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Preheat the broiler. Shave the fennel bulb with a mandolin or peeler into this slices and do the same with the carrot and zucchini. Add to the beans. Put the tomatoes on a non-stick baking sheet and under a preheated broiler for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add to the bowl.
• Remove the chicken breasts from the poaching liquor. Thinly slice them and add to the bowl of vegetables. Toss together and season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken and vegetables between plates and serve with the herb dressing and lemon wedges.