Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Grilled Chicken with Fennel Sauce and Charred Tomato Bread -- 09/12/12

Grilled Chicken with Fennel Sauce and Charred Tomato Bread

Ingredients

  • 2 bulbs garlic, cloves lightly cracked and peeled
  • 1 cup EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • 1 small sprig rosemary
  • 1 bulb fennel, cored and sliced, 2 tablespoons fronds finely chopped and reserved
  • 1 small Meyer lemon or 1/2 organic lemon, sliced
  • Chicken or vegetable stock, optional
  • Reserved garlic infused EVOO
  • Reserved sweet garlic paste
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon
  • 3 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped, plus additional for garnish
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 4 pieces boneless, skinless, chicken breast
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1 fresh Fresno chili, seeded and finely chopped or 1 teaspoon chili flakes
  • 2 tablespoons thyme, chopped
  • Scallions, thinly sliced on an angle, garnish
  • 1/2 loaf ciabatta bread, charred on the grill or grill pan
  • 1 ripe tomato

Yields: 4

Preparation

Step

Place garlic cloves in a small pot, cover with the oil and add bay and rosemary. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to low simmer and gently cook cloves to golden and sweet, about 18-20 minutes. Cool and remove bay and rosemary. Separate garlic from oil with a slotted spoon and paste. Reserve flavored oil. (Garlic confit is a quick path to the sweetness and tamed flavor of roasted garlic. It’s great as a paste on toast, incorporated into sweet, fresh tomato and basil sauce, and as used here, as a base for a thick sauce and as the flavored oil base for a marinade for meat or fish.)

Step

Cover sliced fennel and lemon slices with water (or chicken or vegetable stock), just enough to cover. Bring to a boil, simmer to very tender, 12-15 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Add all the fennel and lemon slices to a blender, add 2 tablespoons garlic paste, the reserved fennel-lemon water, lemon juice, Dijon, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup reserved garlic oil, tarragon, salt and pepper, purée to form a smooth, thick sauce, reserve. Add a splash more water as necessary until just pourable.

Step

Dress chicken with the garlic-infused oil, just enough to coat. Season the chicken with fennel seed, salt, pepper, chilies and thyme. Grill over medium to medium-high heat for about 12 minutes.

Step

Slice chicken on angle, top with sauce and garnish with scallions, fennel fronds and tarragon. Slather charred bread with garlic paste and rub tomato into the bread. Cut into pieces and serve alongside chicken.