Poached Chicken Breast With Spinach And Swiss Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Place chicken in a pot just large enough to hold chicken breast halves and add enough water to cover by 1-inch.
• Add carrot, celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt.
• Bring just to a simmer over medium-high heat where bubbles start forming around the edge of the pot. Reduce to medium-low to keep temperature constant, about 170 to 180 degrees.
• Cook, skimming foam from the surface until they reach 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Transfer to a heatproof bowl and strain the liquid over the chicken and let the chicken breasts cool. This will keep them moist and tender. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.
• Separate meat from the bones and cut as desired.

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.

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook gently for 15-20 seconds, being careful not to let it color.
• Add the stock and immediately put the spinach in on top of it. Cook, stirring quickly, because the spinach will cook down rapidly. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about 1 minute, then remove from the heat and spread out on a cookie sheet to cool.
• When cool, transfer to a mixing bowl and gently combine with the goat cheese.Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• If making in advance, store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Make and assemble chicken:
• Cover the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, with a sheet of plastic wrap and gently pound to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lay each breast in the center of a clean 12 x 18- or 20-inch piece of plastic wrap.
• Place one-fourth of the cooled prepared filling in the center of each breast.
• Wrap the plastic tightly around the breast and roll up the ends, turning tighter and tighter until the breast is in a cylindrical shape; take care to keep the plastic wrap tight around the roll.
• Once the cylinder is formed, continue to twist the ends tightly until they are well sealed. Set aside and repeat with the other 3 breasts.
• If making in advance, the stuffed chicken breasts can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to several days. When ready to proceed, allow to come to room temperature.
• To cook the chicken breasts, set a large pot of water over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Carefully place the wrapped chicken breasts in the water and poach for 15-16 minutes.
• Remove the chicken breasts with tongs and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the plastic, using a sharp knife for scissors. Cut the chicken on a bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve.

Steps:

• Using a mallet or meat tenderizer, pound the chicken breasts until the meat is flat and even.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Add a layer of spinach and a slice of Swiss cheese. Roll each breast tightly to ensure that the filling can not escape.
• Wrap each breast tightly in aluminum foil.
• In a deep pan, bring the water to a boil.
• Place the foil-wrapped breasts into the water. Use a heat-proof plate to weigh the chicken breasts down and keep them completely submerged in the water.
• Allow them to simmer in the water for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is completely done.