Poached Chicken with Summer Herbs

White meat is well suited to poaching. On a summer day poached chicken will make a fine one-pot meal. The vegetables simmer alongside the meat and the cooking liquor provides the basis for a classy sauce. Use a good roasting chicken – don’t buy anything labelled boiling fowl as this indicates an older bird, worn out from intensive laying. The selection of vegetables given here is just a guideline: use whatever is freshest and best on the day.