Tarragon Chicken A La Pepin Recipes

TARRAGON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the garlic oil in a frying pan or Dutch oven that has a lid and in which the chicken breasts will fit pretty snugly. Add the scallions, stir, then sprinkle in the freeze-dried tarragon, stir again and cook them in the garlic oil for a minute, stirring some more as they cook.
• Put the chicken fillets into the pan, curved side down, and cook for 5 minutes, watching the scallions don't burn. If they look like they're beginning to, scrape them from the pan and let them sit on the chicken pieces.
• Turn over the breasts, and add the vermouth (or white wine). Let the vermouth bubble up, then add the salt. Put the lid on, turn the heat down low and leave it to simmer gently for 10 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked through by making a small cut into the thickest part and ensuring the juices run clear - if not, simmer for a few minutes longer and check again.
• Remove the chicken breasts to warmed plates. Bring the remaining liquid to a boil, add the cream and stir well, then sprinkle in the fresh tarragon, stir again and give a good grind of white pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts, and give a final scattering of tarragon to serve.

CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON SAUCE

Steps:

• Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper., In a large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm., Add shallot to same pan; cook and stir over medium heat until tender. Add cream, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook until slightly thickened. Stir in 2 teaspoons tarragon, lemon juice and remaining salt. Serve with chicken. Sprinkle with remaining tarragon.

CHICKEN-TARRAGON POT PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust, combine flour, butter, shortening, salt and sugar in a food processor. Pulse together just until the mixture is crumbly and butter is broken into small pieces. Pour 1/3 cup ice water into the machine, and pulse 3 or 4 times. Squeeze a little dough in your hand to see whether it clumps together and is evenly moist. If not, add another tablespoon of water, and pulse 1 or 2 times more. Don't overmix so that the dough forms a ball.
• Turn out dough on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Lift ends of plastic to gather dough together inside. Press into a large disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 days.
• To make the filling, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrot, celery, leeks and tarragon, and cook, stirring, just until slightly softened but not browned (reduce the heat if necessary to prevent browning), about 3 minutes. Transfer cooked vegetables to a bowl, wipe out the skillet, and place it back on the stove.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook, whisking, until the mixture bubbles and smells cooked. Do not let it brown. Whisk in 2 cups broth, and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in cream, and cook 2 or 3 minutes, just until thickened. Add salt and pepper. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in remaining broth.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add cooked vegetables and peas, chicken and sauce to 8-inch deep pie dish or other baking dish, mix gently, and taste for seasoning.
• Flour a work surface. Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll out the dough, turning and flouring often, and cut a shape approximately the size of your baking dish plus 1 1/2 inches overlap all around.
• Roll dough up onto the rolling pin, and unroll over dish, so it rests evenly on top of filling. Fold the edges under and crimp. Poke tip of knife through crust to create 3 vent holes near the center. Whisk the egg with a teaspoon of cold water. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the entire crust with egg wash. Place on cookie sheet, and place in oven.
• Bake 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 degrees. Bake 25 to 30 minutes more, until crust is golden and filling is bubbling through vents. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

TARRAGON CHICKEN A LA PEPIN

Steps:

• Boil potatoes for 30 minutes (they do not have to be cooked through, they will finished in the oven); set aside to cool, then when cool enough to handle, peel and slice into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over high heat, brown chicken in oil and butter on both sides well; season liberally with salt and pepper and set aside (these also will not be cooked through, but finished in the oven).
• Lower heat to medium-low and toss the garlic cloves into skillet and let cook, stirring occasionally so as not to burn, for 1 to 2 minutes; stir in wine to deglaze pan, stirring all the browned bits from the chicken that stuck to the bottom of the pan, and let reduce by half, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and tarragon; turn off heat and let stand while you assemble the dish.
• Preheat oven to 350°F; butter a 2-quart covered baking dish or casserole.
• Layer half the onions in a single layer in the bottom of your casserole; top with half the potatoes.
• Lay browned chicken on top of the potatoes, then a second layer with the rest of the onions, topped with the remainder of the potatoes.
• Pour broth over everything, cover and place in oven until chicken is cooked through to 165°F on an instant read meat thermometer, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on how cool you let all the ingredients get before assembly.
• NOTE: This step is optional, but you can run the dish under the broiler to brown the potatoes a bit (makes for a more attractive dish). Also a drizzle of heavy cream and/or a squirt of fresh lemon juice may be a welcome addition.

POULET A L'ESTRAGON (CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON)

Steps:

• Remove the giblets from the chicken, and reserve them for another use. Place the chicken in a bowl or sink, and pour the boiling water over it. This French trick tightens the skin of the bird, which in turn seals in the flavor better. Dry the chicken with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Blend the softened butter with half the tarragon and a little salt and pepper. Place the herb butter in the cavity of the chicken, then place the chicken in a cast-iron casserole, pour the wine over it, cover, and roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until it is cooked through.
• Transfer the chicken to a hot serving dish. Stir the beurre manie into juices in the casserole, and cook for 1 minute. Add the cream and the remaining tarragon, and cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened. Pour the sauce over or around chicken, and serve immediately.