Poached Chicken with Hot English Mustard
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut in half
- 1 stalk celery, cut in half
- 2 onions, cut in half
- 3 stems fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 1 4-pound whole chicken, rinsed and patted dry
- Coarse salt
- 4 slices French bread, about 1/3 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small bunch watercress
- 1/4 cup hot English mustard, or to taste
- Place the carrots, celery, onions, parsley, and peppercorns in a stockpot.
- Add the chicken.
- Fill the pot with enough cold water to cover the chicken by 1 inch.
- Set over medium-high heat, and bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and allow to simmer, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface, for 1 hour.
- Remove the chicken from the stock; set aside.
- Strain the stock through a very fine sieve or chinois.
- Discard the solids.
- Transfer the stock to a metal bowl.
- Set the bowl in another bowl, full of ice water.
- Let stand until the stock is completely chilled, replacing the ice if necessary, and fat can be skimmed off the surface of the stock.
- Meanwhile, when the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and discard.
- Carefully pull the meat off the bones (it should fall away quite easily), keeping it in large chunks when possible.
- Return 5 cups stock to the stockpot or a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil; adjust the seasoning with salt.
- Reduce heat to a simmer; simmer until stock has become very flavorful and reduced by 1 cup, about 15 minutes.
- Add the pieces of chicken; cook just until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Toast the bread until golden, and brush with the olive oil.
- Serve the chicken in a wide bowl with a ladle of hot broth.
- Add a handful of watercress to each bowl.
- Place a spoonful of mustard on toast, sprinkle with salt, and serve on the side.
carrots, celery, onions, parsley, black peppercorns, chicken, salt, bread, extravirgin olive oil, watercress
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/poached-chicken-with-hot-english-mustard-392640 (may not work)