
Poached chicken salad w green goddess dressing

This is such a fabulous salad I had to share it when its so hot - based on Neil Perry and my friend Pam who gave it to us when we recently travelled to the coast. I always poach my chicken by the French method which means the chicken is very tender. Green goddess dressing usually has yoghurt or mayonnaise added, which you can do if you wish. It was invented in California and is named after a very dubious film, but it is still very good.
Ingredients:
2 Chicken breasts
Four red capsicums
Tomatoes, any kind although a mix is good.
Avocado
Pomegranate
Green goddess dressing:
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped tarragon
small bunch of chives
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons good vinegar
2 anchovies
Dijon mustard
Pepper and salt.
1/2 lemon
Chop the anchovies. Add the vinegar, mustard, pepper and salt and finely chopped anchovies to the the olive oil, and whisk until it emulsifies. Add herbs and whisk again to mix.
Method: Poached chicken
To poach the chicken cut each breast into three pieces. Boil a big pan of water with a large pinch of salt, bayleaves, sprigs of thyme and parsley.( A court bouillon)
Bring the mix to a hard boil. Turn it off and immediately put the chicken breasts in the hot water and cover. The chicken will cook as the water cools down. If the chicken is cut up then it should take about 20 minutes, longer if you use large pieces. Check it is cooked right through.
When the chicken has cooled slice it up.
Method: Roasted Capsicums
To roast the capsicums put them under a grill, and blacken on each side.
Using tongs, place them in a bowl and cover with glad wrap for about five minutes. This will make peeling them easier. Peel.
Slice up, removing the seeds
Method: removing Pomegranate Seeds
Cut the pomegranates in half around their middle
In one hand hold the pomegranate upside down, with the fingers slightly apart
Have your hand over a bowl to catch the seeds
Holding the back of a heavy knife, or other heavy implement like a hammer or small mallet, bang the shell of the pomegranate, being careful not to bang your hand!
The seeds will fall out into your hand and the bowl below.
Method: Compiling the salad
Place the sliced capsicums on the bottom of a large shallow bowl. Slice the tomatoes and arrange on the capsicums, then slice the avocado and arrange. Put the chicken pieces down the centre (or serve separately) then sprinkle the pomegranate seeds over the other vegetables and drizzle with green goddess sauce.
Happy Salad days!