I’ll come right out and say it. I’ve never liked Chicken a la King. Not only does the name do absolutely nothing for me, but I also never liked the consistency. Mushy, cooked to death and just bland. Also, I despise green pepper and Chicken à la King ALWAYS had tons of the stuff, boiled to mush. Also, what is it with food that is cooked for too long tasting like everything and nothing at the same time? So bizarre. But I knew that Chicken a la King had potential so I set out to create a delicious version of my own. And not to toot my own horn, but I think I’ve pretty much perfected it. I tried not using too much cream and instead, used the liquid the chicken was poached in to make a smooth, rich white sauce. I also sautéed the vegetables individually before adding them to the sauce to simmer for a while with the chicken. I found this to be incredibly delicious and comforting. Proper homey comfort food, done right. And not a green pepper in sight!
What is Chicken a la King?
It’s a creamy, comforting dish consisting of chicken, peas, peppers and mushrooms. Perfect served on steamed rice for an easy dinner.
How to make the best Chicken a la King?
Place a whole chicken in a large pot and add aromatics like carrot, celery, garlic, leeks and herbs. Fill the pot with cold water then bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and allow the chicken to cook for at least an hour or until the meat is soft. Remove the chicken from the stock and set aside. Drain the stock through a mesh-sieve, reserving the liquid. For a shortcut, use rotisserie chicken or poached chicken breasts. To make the chicken a la king, saute the onions and peppers in a few tablespoons of olive oil until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the mushrooms and garlic to the same pan and fry until cooked. In a large pot, melt the butter and add the flour. Whisk into a roux then pour in chicken stock (the reserved stock from poaching the chicken is ideal), milk and cream. Shred the chicken into large chunks then add to the sauce with the vegetables. Season to taste with lemon, salt and pepper and allow to simmer for 10 minutes before serving over rice or mashed potatoes.
Chicken recipes for dinner
