Chicken in a Pot
Feb 19, 2010
This old fashioned, wholesome recipe is not only easy (just throw everything into a pot!), but it's equally at home during an ordinary family meal or when you have company. At my house, it always gets raves.
What You Need:
10 black peppercorns
4 whole allspice
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
10 small red potatoes (about 1 lb.)
3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
5 carrots cut into about 1 inch long pieces
2 onions, peeled and quartered
3 (16 oz.) cans of chicken of beef broth or stock
a pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
fresh chives, minced or diced
Cheesecloth (optional)
Large pot
How to Do It: 1. The "proper" way to begin is to make what's called a bouquet garni: Cut a piece of cheesecloth into about an 8 inch square, place the first 4 ingredients in the center, bring up the corners, tie with a strip of cheesecloth, and throw in the pot. However, if I don't have cheesecloth handy, I just toss in the first 4 ingredients loose. 2. Toss in the potatoes, chicken, carrots, and onions. Add the stock or broth; the original recipe called for chicken broth, but I prefer the richer flavor of beef stock. Both work fine - or try a mixture of the two. The ingredients should now be well covered; if not, add a little water or white wine. (Wine added at this stage will have all the alcohol cooked out of it by the time you're done.) 3. Place the pot on medium-high heat and bring the contents to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes. If the liquid boils away too rapidly, leaving the chicken exposed, add a little extra liquid. 5. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon. Place in a bowl and cover with a plate to keep warm. Discard the bouquet garni (if you made one). 6. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour; reduce heat and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup broth mixture (strain it if you didn't use a bouquet garni). Whisk in milk and cook until thick, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently. 7. Chop up chicken (or tear apart using two forks). Arrange veggies on a platter and top with chicken. Spoon sauce over the top and sprinkle with chives. Serves 4. You'll also have about 4 cups of broth left over. Strain it if you didn't use a bouquet garni and freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Do It: 1. The "proper" way to begin is to make what's called a bouquet garni: Cut a piece of cheesecloth into about an 8 inch square, place the first 4 ingredients in the center, bring up the corners, tie with a strip of cheesecloth, and throw in the pot. However, if I don't have cheesecloth handy, I just toss in the first 4 ingredients loose. 2. Toss in the potatoes, chicken, carrots, and onions. Add the stock or broth; the original recipe called for chicken broth, but I prefer the richer flavor of beef stock. Both work fine - or try a mixture of the two. The ingredients should now be well covered; if not, add a little water or white wine. (Wine added at this stage will have all the alcohol cooked out of it by the time you're done.) 3. Place the pot on medium-high heat and bring the contents to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes. If the liquid boils away too rapidly, leaving the chicken exposed, add a little extra liquid. 5. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon. Place in a bowl and cover with a plate to keep warm. Discard the bouquet garni (if you made one). 6. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour; reduce heat and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup broth mixture (strain it if you didn't use a bouquet garni). Whisk in milk and cook until thick, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently. 7. Chop up chicken (or tear apart using two forks). Arrange veggies on a platter and top with chicken. Spoon sauce over the top and sprinkle with chives. Serves 4. You'll also have about 4 cups of broth left over. Strain it if you didn't use a bouquet garni and freeze for up to 3 months.
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