Name: Poached chicken with basil mayonnaise
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 250 ml verjuice (1 cup); 3 stalks of celery, coarsely chopped; 2 carrots, coarsely chopped; 1 head of garlic, halved; 6 sprigs of thyme; 3 pieces of lemon rind, removed with a peeler; 2 bay leaves; Reserved from below: basil stalks; 2 organic chickens (1.4kg each); To serve: picked watercress; Basil mayonnaise; 2 cups basil leaves, stalks reserved for poaching (firmly packed); 3 egg yolks; 1½ tbsp tarragon or white wine vinegar; 200 ml olive oil; 1 tbsp lemon juice

Poached chicken with basil mayonnaise

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for poached chicken with basil mayonnaise

Roast fennel, mint and ruby grapefruit salad — Poached chicken with basil mayonnaise

Serves 8

Prep

15M

Cook

10M

Total

25M

Ingredients

250 ml verjuice (1 cup)

3 stalks of celery, coarsely chopped

2 carrots, coarsely chopped

1 head of garlic, halved

6 sprigs of thyme

3 pieces of lemon rind, removed with a peeler

2 bay leaves

Reserved from below: basil stalks

2 organic chickens (1.4kg each)

To serve: picked watercress

Basil mayonnaise

2 cups basil leaves, stalks reserved for poaching (firmly packed)

3 egg yolks

1½ tbsp tarragon or white wine vinegar

200 ml olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

Main

1.Combine all ingredients except watercress in a stock pot or saucepan large enough to hold chickens, cover with cold water and bring to the boil over medium heat, remove from heat, cover and cool completely in liquid. Remove chicken from liquid (you can strain cooking liquid and reserve for stock) and, using a sharp knife, remove breasts and legs. Cut each breast into 3 pieces and cut each leg into 2 through the joint. Arrange on a serving platter, season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and scatter with watercress.

2.Meanwhile, for basil mayonnaise, blanch basil in boiling salted water for 30 seconds, drain, refresh in iced water, drain again and squeeze excess water from basil. Using a food processor, process basil and egg yolks until basil is finely chopped, add vinegar and process to combine. With motor running, add olive oil in a thin, steady stream and process until thick and emulsified. Add lemon juice, season to taste and process to combine. Serve with poached chicken. Makes about 1½ cups.