Lavender Mayonnaise For Elegant Salads Fish And Chicken Recipes

LAVENDER MAYONNAISE FOR ELEGANT SALADS, FISH AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Add the lavender infused vinegar to the mayonnaise, teaspoon by teaspoon until the desired flavour and taste has been achieved.
• Serve in a pretty dish with fresh lavender as a garnish.
• Great with salmon, most types of fish, seafood, salads and cold roast chicken and hams.

LAVENDER LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl or mortar and pestle coarsely crush lavender and thyme. Then stir together with butter, zest, salt and pepper until well combined.
• Spoon mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log. Chill butter log until firm, at least 30 minutes, and up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Rinse chicken and pat dry.
• Slice herb butter and reserve 2 tablespoons for sauce.
• Slide hand under skin of chicken breast to loosen skin from meat. Insert about 3/4's of the butter under the skin and spread the rest over the outside of chicken.
• Truss chicken. Place the chicken in a flameproof roasting pan.
• Slice the onion into large pieces and scatter around the chicken.
• Roast bird in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh (be careful not to touch bone) registers 170° to 175°F.
• It will take roughly 55-65 minutes for a four pound chicken and 8 minutes more per every pound over that.
• Lift chicken and tilt, emptying any juices from cavity into roasting pan.
• Remove the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with foil.
• Sauce: Add vermouth to pan. Place pan over high heat; bring vermouth to boil, scraping up any browned bits and onions.
• Strain the mixture into cup with pan juices.
• Spoon fat off and pour back into the pan. Add reserved 2 tablespoons herb butter and bring to a simmer - or melt butter before adding to pan.
• When butter has completely melted add flour and whisk until smooth.
• Serve sauce with chicken.

ELEGANT BRUNCH CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the chicken and simmer until cooked through, approximately 10 minutes. Drain, cool and cut into cubes.
• While boiling chicken, make the mayonnaise: Using a blender or hand-held electric mixer, beat the egg, mustard, salt, water and vinegar until light and frothy. Add the oil a tablespoon at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Once mixture begins to thicken, you can add oil more quickly. Continue until mixture reaches the consistency of creamy mayonnaise. NOTE: The more oil you add, the thicker it gets; you may not need the full cup of oil.
• In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, grapes, pecans, blue cheese and 1 cup of the mayonnaise. Stir until evenly coated, adding more mayonnaise if necessary. Refrigerate until serving.

ELEGANT LAVENDER AND LEMON POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Place the stock and lavender essence in a saucepan and bring to boil. Add the chicken breasts and return to boil and poach for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken to a dish and keep warm while making the sauce. Pour the stock into a jug.
• Melt the butter in the pan and soften the shallot gently for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle on the cornflour and stir to mix.
• Gradually add the stock and stir while bringing to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the creme fraiche, salt and pepper. Simmer for a few minutes. Add lemon juice and season to taste.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken, garnish each chicken breast with some lavender flowers and serve with wild rice or pasta; new potatoes and mange tout would also be good.

LAVENDER DIJON DRESSING/MARINADE FOR SALADS, CHICKEN AND FISH

Steps:

• In a jar with a well-fitting lid, combine all ingredients.
• Shake well.
• Lovely served drizzled over fresh salad greens, or use as a tasty marinade for meats, poultry or fish (marinate for 15 minutes to overnight).