When you purchase chicken-breast halves, poach them for an elegant meal.

Image Credit: Vaivirga/iStock/Getty Images There are dozens of well-loved ways to fix chicken – fried, grilled, baked or in a soup. One elegant way to make chicken is to poach it in court bouillon, which is a sauce designed specifically for poaching that is made from white wine, vegetables and pepper. This poaching liquid is commonly used for seafood as well as chicken because it adds a subtle sophisticated flavor of wine and earthy pepper to the meat, enhancing the flavor of the dish.

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Step 1

Add the onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves, thyme, white wine, salt, black peppercorns and water to the skillet and bring them to a boil over high heat.

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Step 2

Add the chicken breasts and reduce the heat to medium. The court bouillon should cover the chicken breasts. If it does not, add more water until the chicken is covered.

Step 3

Place the lid on the skillet and simmer the mixture for 35 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

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Step 4

Pull one large chicken breast out of the pan and use your meat thermometer to take its temperature. Be careful to avoid the bone of the chicken because the temperature of the bone might be higher than the meat. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Step 5

Remove the chicken from the skillet. Skin the chicken and serve it hot, or remove the skin and bones to use the chicken in a salad. Discard the court bouillon and vegetables, or reserve them to make a sauce.

Things You'll Need

1 onion, sliced 1 carrot, peeled and sliced 2 celery stalks, trimmed and sliced 2 bay leaves 1 fresh spring thyme 2 cups dry white wine, such as Chardonnay Salt to taste 1 tbsp. black peppercorns 4 cups water 8 frozen chicken-breast halves, with skin and bone on Skillet with cover Spatula Warning Do not eat undercooked chicken, which may contain salmonella and other food-borne bacteria that can cause severe illness or death.

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  references
  
      "1,000 Jewish Recipes"; Faye Levy; 2000
    
      "Cooking"; James Peterson; 2007
       




  references
  
      "1,000 Jewish Recipes"; Faye Levy; 2000
    
      "Cooking"; James Peterson; 2007
    




When you purchase chicken-breast halves, poach them for an elegant meal.

Image Credit: Vaivirga/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Vaivirga/iStock/Getty Images

  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, trimmed and sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 fresh spring thyme
  • 2 cups dry white wine, such as Chardonnay
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp. black peppercorns
  • 4 cups water
  • 8 frozen chicken-breast halves, with skin and bone on
  • Skillet with cover
  • Spatula

Do not eat undercooked chicken, which may contain salmonella and other food-borne bacteria that can cause severe illness or death.

      "1,000 Jewish Recipes"; Faye Levy; 2000
    
      "Cooking"; James Peterson; 2007