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Poached Chicken is the New Grilled Chicken
Recipes | March 15, 2015
If you’re familiar with my Nutrition Guide you know I try to add protein into my meals at least 3 times a day. Sufficient protein intake is not only important for muscle growth and recovery, but also for making enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals and tissues. Our nails are hair are mostly made of protein!! Maybe if I had more protein as a kid I wouldn’t have to have extensions 🙂
Protein is always the hardest thing to add to your meal, because of the limited sources. Even if you’re not a vegan or vegetarian, you’re always stuck with just a few choices in form of animal proteins that are not always readily available. That’s why I love poached chicken. It takes only 15 minutes to make yourself juicy protein out of lean chicken breasts that you can store in the fridge for at least 3 days and use for quick recipes, snacks, and salads. Besides that, it’s easier and less messy then trying to grill your chicken breasts that won’t be as good and as juicy in your salad as the poached chicken.
Instructions
Pick a pot in which the chicken breasts can be completely submerged in water. Fill the pot half way up with cold water and bring to boil. Don’t add any salt or seasoning, just plain water. Once you see the water boiling, add the whole chicken breasts and make sure they are completely under water (or you’ll have to flip them after 5 minutes which is an unnecessary extra step since you should have plenty of water and a big enough pot).
Cook the chicken breasts in boiling water for 7 minutes, then turn the heat off and keeping the pot covered, leave the chicken in the hot water for another 8 minutes. Even though the water is not boiling, the chicken should continue to cook.
Take the chicken out on a plate and cover with aluminum foil and let it cool down. Do not cut into the chicken until it cools down because it’s actually still cooking inside. This technique ensures that your chicken is fully cooked through without losing any moisture, keeping itself juicy and delicious. You can season the chicken with any spices you want when it’s done and add it to any dish or salad. I will continue to post recipes that contain the poached chicken to show you how many variations of healthy meals you can create out of your precooked, stored and easy to make protein.
You can try your first poached chicken with this fun recipe: Chicken Salad on Apple Slices (FM)
Private Member |
Trying this today!! And I second the mixer idea with a paddle…shreds it in seconds! Make your own ground chicken that way, using the blades!
Private Member |
Do you leave the chicken covered while its boiling for the 7 minutes? Or is it simmering while covered for 7 minutes?
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
I cover the pot with lid when it’s boiling.
Private Member |
tustin, ca, usa
I use this recipe almost every week. My boyfriend and I are always so surprised by the juiciness of the chicken and how easy it is.
Private Member |
Great one, I will have this tonight for dinner, thank you Zu!
Private Member |
How many chicken breasts do you use for this?
Private Member |
Thank you for this! I don’t eat meat but I cook it for my husband so this makes my life so much easier!
Private Member |
astoria, or, usa
Zuzka!! Maybe I’m crazy but I thought I remembered when you posted this, you also posted a chicken salad recipe with it that include mayo and maybe grapes? Or Apple? It was delicious whatever it was just topped on salad. Do you recall the ingredients for the chicken salad portion or have a link to the recipe? It was years ago so maybe I’m confusing it with something else but the link to the chicken salad on apples is broken.
Private Member |
Hi Becky 🥰. I just watched a YouTube video on Zuzka’s channel with this very recipe. If you search ”apple” I’m sure it will pop up. It’s called “chicken salad on apple slices” on her YouTube channel. Good to know that you’d put in so much effort to find the recipe. I take it as a sign that it’s delicious 😋