Baked Chicken and Chicory in a Mustard and Tarragon Sauce

This used up the last of my chicory and was absolutely delicious. It was lovely and creamy and mustardy. I served it with boiled new potatoes and steamed carrots and beans.

Baked Chicken and Chicory in a Mustard and Tarragon Sauce
(adapted from Good Food Magazine February 2004)
(Serves 4)

3 head of white chicory
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp dry white wine, chicken stock or water
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
25g butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped

For the sauce
25g butter
1 tbsp plain flour
300ml milk
150ml low fat crème fraîche or soured cream
1 tsp dried tarragon
2-3 tsp smooth Dijon mustard
2-3 tsp grainy Dijon mustard
50g cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat the oven to 180C. Trim away the stalk ends of the chicory, discard any limp or tired outer leaves, then cut the vegetable lengthways into quarters. Pour the oil over the bottom of a large shallow baking dish and arrange the sections of chicory, cut-side up, in a single layer. Pour over the wine, stock or water and cover with foil. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile slice the chicken into strips 1cm thick. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a large frying pan until foaming, add sliced chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the chicken is just turning golden brown. Stir in the shallot and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove the dish from the oven and add the chicken mixture to the chicory. Replace the foil and set the dish aside while you make the sauce.

Melt the butter for the sauce in the frying pan (no need to wash it) then stir in the flour. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring all the time until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche or soured cream, tarragon and 2 tsp each of both mustards. Taste and add extra mustard plus salt and pepper if you think they're needed.

Pour the sauce over the chicory and chicken and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden.