Basic Milk Poaching
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts/1 to 2 pounds firm white fish filet/1 to 2 vegetable "steaks" ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed ⓘ
- 2 ounces butter ⓘ
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced ⓘ
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced ⓘ
- 6 to 8 branches woody herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano) ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour (for gluten-free, use rice flour) ⓘ
- 1 quart whole or 2% milk, plus more as needed ⓘ
- Zest of 1 lemon, removed with a vegetable peeler ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed ⓘ
Instructions
- Season the main item (chicken, fish or vegetable) with kosher salt, coating the item well on both sides.
- Melt the butter in a wide bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is browned and has a roasted, nutty aroma.
- Pat the main item dry and place in the pan, presentation side down, and sear until well-browned. Flip and brown well on the second side. Remove the item from the pan to rest on a rack.
- Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned.
- When the shallots and garlic are golden and fragrant, scatter the herbs and flour into the pan. Cook, stirring often, for 1 minute more. Gradually whisk the milk into the pan and bring the mixture to simmer. Add the lemon zest, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add your main ingredient to the pan, and add more milk to cover if needed. Bring the milk in the pan to a light simmer; you are looking to maintain a temperature around 180 F (82 C). Cook until proper doneness is reached: boneless chicken, about 20 minutes; fish filets, 12 to 15 minutes; vegetables, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the items from the pan rest on a rack. The poaching liquid may be reduced to create a sauce if desired: - For chicken, add thinly sliced mushrooms and simmer until tender and thickened. - For fish, reduce until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in capers, lemon juice, and dill. - For vegetables, reduce until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in ground chiles, sliced cilantro, and lime juice.
- Garnish with chopped toasted nuts or breadcrumbs.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
827
kcal
41% DV
Protein
Fat
Carbs
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).