MILK-POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH YOUNG VEGETABLES

Milk-Poached Chicken Breasts with Young Vegetables image

The light, herbal freshness that enlivened many of our grüner veltliners suggested a dish with a certain freshly picked delicacy, one that might satisfy on a soft summer evening. Not firing up the grill or the oven is an extra bonus.The idea is to poach chicken breasts gently in milk - "gently" is operative here - then serve them in a soup that has captured the flavors of vegetables. Baby carrots, potatoes, tiny onions and, for the wine, some peas (an ingredient we mentioned often during the tasting) make for a pretty plate. And, according to my granddaughters, ages 7 and 9, a delicious one, too.

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds total)
Salt
freshly ground white pepper
4 garlic cloves, slivered
3 cups whole milk
1 pound baby Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halved
18 baby carrots, peeled, 1/2-inch of stem left on
24 tiny pearl onions, blanched and peeled
1/2 pound sugar snap peas
6 tablespoons crème fraîche
Fleur de sel
1/4 cup minced chives

Steps:

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in sauté pan to hold them closely in single layer. Scatter with garlic. Add milk. Bring to a very gentle simmer and cook, turning a few times, 18 minutes. Never let milk boil at any time or it will curdle. Remove chicken to a platter, tent with foil.
Add potatoes to milk in pan. Simmer gently 15 minutes. Add carrots. Simmer until potatoes are tender, another 15 minutes or so. Add onions and peas. Simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in crème fraîche. Season milk with salt and pepper as needed. Dish can be set aside up to 45 minutes, then reheated.
Slice each chicken breast half across in three pieces, each about an inch wide. Return chicken to pan and bring to slow simmer just enough to reheat dish. Arrange chicken pieces and vegetables in 6 shallow soup plates. Ladle in milk sauce. Sprinkle chicken with fleur de sel and chives. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 528, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 69 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 1361 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams