Chicken Piccata

 

Chicken Piccata

Our teenage grandson is spending the week with us and he's interested in cooking, so I picked out a few recipes suitable for him to try. We found thinly sliced chicken breasts at the supermarket which saved him a step in the directions. This dish was executed with minimal fuss and was delicious!

Rather than making a separate side dish, fresh spinach and green peas were cooked in the sauce in the final step of cooking. Our chicken piccata was served on a bed of steamed rice and was relished by all, young and the not so young alike.

Chicken Laksa Curry

 

Chicken Laksa Curry

Laksa Paste

The easiest chicken curry, made possible with a store-bought laksa paste which is available in Asian markets or online. It takes 20 minutes to make chiefly because the chicken was tenderized ahead of time. After cutting the chicken, boneless and skinless chicken thighs in this case, the bite-sized pieces are soaked at room temperature for 30 minutes in water mixed with a teaspoon each of salt and baking soda. After draining, the chicken must be washed in several changes of water to remove all traces of baking soda. This makes the chicken or any meat incredibly soft  and tender. Substitute chicken with beef, lamb, pork, shrimp, tofu or paneer.

Chicken and Chayote Squash in Black Bean Sauce

 

Chicken and Squash
in Black Bean Sauce

Any kind of meat, fish or seafood tastes wonderful cooked in black bean sauce. Lee Kum Kee sauces are available at any Asian market and are of excellent quality.

Chayote Squash is found in abundance at the supermarkets nowadays and grows wild in Darjeeling where I spent my adolescence. It's a hardy vegetable that does not spoil in the fridge and is a favourite vegetable in our household. They're peeled and thinly sliced so they cook quickly.

Chayote Squash

Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are cut in bite-sized pieces and velveted which tenderizes the meat and keeps it looking a pristine white. Velveting simply means soaking in baking powder for 30 minutes then washing thoroughly to remove all traces of baking powder. The chicken is then marinated in oil, salt and corn starch for 10 minutes before tossing in hot oil just until the colour changes. 

This is a very easy recipe that is packed with flavour and goes well with hot, steamed rice.

Easy Chicken Salad

2 lbs. of Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad Crescent Sandwiches

Chicken Salad Meal

It's best to use fresh chicken breasts for a pure white color, but canned or shredded rotisserie chicken also works. To poach fresh chicken breasts, place them in a saucepan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Add cold water so it just covers the chicken. Bring to a boil and simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and allow to cool before dicing.

Water chestnuts add extra crunch to this salad and can be found in Meijer's Chinese section of the International aisle. They come sliced in 8 ounces (226 gm.) cans.