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Poached Chicken Breasts With Fresh Salsa

Poached Chicken Breasts With Fresh Salsa recipe image
This dish offers a light yet satisfying meal, combining tender, aromatic poached chicken with a bright and textured salsa. The chicken is gently steamed in a mixture of wine or broth with thyme and pepper, ensuring it remains juicy and flavorful without being dry. The accompanying salsa is a fresh blend of ripe tomatoes, creamy avocado, zesty lemon juice, and crunchy walnuts, providing a delightful contrast of flavors and textures. It is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a healthy lunch option. Serve the chicken over a bed of rice or quinoa for a complete, balanced plate that feels both comforting and refreshing.
Cooking Method: ,
Cuisine:
Courses:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 4
Calories: 49.2
Description
This dish offers a light yet satisfying meal, combining tender, aromatic poached chicken with a bright and textured salsa. The chicken is gently steamed in a mixture of wine or broth with thyme and pepper, ensuring it remains juicy and flavorful without being dry. The accompanying salsa is a fresh blend of ripe tomatoes, creamy avocado, zesty lemon juice, and crunchy walnuts, providing a delightful contrast of flavors and textures. It is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a healthy lunch option. Serve the chicken over a bed of rice or quinoa for a complete, balanced plate that feels both comforting and refreshing.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1/2 tsp Thyme
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/8 tsp Black pepper
  • 4 halves Skinless boneless chicken breast (about 1 lb)
  • 1 medium Tomato, chopped
  • 1 small Avocado, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Finely chopped walnuts
  • 1 pepper Jalapeno, seeded and minced
  • 1 small Onion, minced
  • 2 tbsp Lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp Salt (for salsa)
  • 1/4 cup Poaching liquid (from chicken) or mix of poaching liquid and olive oil
Directions
  1. 1
    Fill the steamer base with water up to the "Hi" fill line and position the steaming bowl.
  2. 2
    In the rice bowl or steamer insert, combine the dry white wine (or chicken broth), thyme, salt, and black pepper.
  3. 3
    Stir the mixture to ensure the seasonings are well blended.
  4. 4
    Add the chicken breast cutlets to the bowl, placing the thickest pieces toward the sides for even cooking.
  5. 5
    Cover and steam for 34-37 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and opaque.
  6. 6
    While the chicken is cooking, combine the chopped tomato, avocado, cilantro, walnuts, minced jalapeno, minced onion, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl.
  7. 7
    Mix the salsa ingredients well to distribute the flavors evenly.
  8. 8
    Once the chicken is done, carefully transfer the cutlets to a serving plate or a bed of rice if desired.
  9. 9
    Stir 1/4 cup of the hot poaching liquid (or a mixture of poaching liquid and olive oil) into the salsa to bind it and add moisture.
  10. 10
    Top the warm chicken breasts with the fresh salsa and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories 49.2kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0.0g0%
Saturated Fat 0.0g0%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 2.4mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 1.6g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 0.4g
Protein 0.1g1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

If you do not have a steamer, you can poach the chicken in a skillet with the wine/broth mixture by bringing it to a simmer and covering with a lid for 15-20 minutes.

For the salsa, you can substitute walnuts with pecans or pine nuts if preferred.

To keep the avocado from browning, add the lemon juice just before serving or toss the avocado in lemon juice separately before mixing.

The poaching liquid can be served on the side as a light sauce, but discard any excess if you are not using it in the salsa.

Adjust the amount of jalapeno to your heat preference; removing seeds reduces spiciness.

Keywords: poached chicken, fresh salsa, avocado salsa, walnut salsa, thyme chicken, steamed chicken, healthy dinner, gluten-free, mexican flavors, easy meal, chicken breasts, fresh cilantro, lemon juice, white wine, light meal
Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/poached-chicken-breasts-with-fresh-salsa/