When I'm cooking I like to create contrasts, particularly with colours. Pale coloured foods such as the chicken and celery dish can easily look insipid so I always look for ways to brighten them up.
There are three options that I could have used. The first is to serve the chicken with a green salad or some green vegetables, maybe broccoli, kale, spinach or peas. These would all give it a lift.
Alternatively, I could choose to serve it on a colourful plate. More often than not I use white plates but in this case the pale coloured food would blend into the plate and would lose its impact.
The third option is the one that I chose to use as it has the advantage of adding an extra layer of flavour to the dish. As you can see from the photographs, it is the addition of some chopped herbs. Celery leaves from the tops of the celery stalks, but you could use any herb that goes well with chicken such as tarragon, parsley, chervil or chives.
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Creamy Chicken with Celery
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Serves 2
2 Chicken Breasts (approx 350g), diced
1 Rasher of Bacon, cut into small pieces
½ Small Onion, finely sliced
4 Sticks of Celery, sliced
200ml Chicken or Vegetable Stock
200ml Coconut Milk
1 Bay Leaf
1 Clove of Garlic, crushed
1 Tsp Cornflour
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
A small handful of celery leaves, chopped (or any other suitable herb)
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Gently fry the bacon, onions and celery until the onion is tender. Use a low heat to ensure that the vegetables and bacon don't brown. Add the crushed garlic, stock, coconut milk and bay leaf and bring up to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened to a syrupy consistency.
Add the diced chicken, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and tender.
Slake (mix) the cornflour with a little water and stir into the sauce. Keep stirring and simmer until the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Stir through the chopped celery leaves or parsley.
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Food Preparation & Food Presentation Guides
Colour ~ Texture ~ Shape/Form ~ Less is More ~ Garnishing
Serving Styles ~ Plating Techniques ~ Plating Styles
Importance of the Visual Appeal of Food
Why Attractive Presentation Makes Food More Enjoyable
