••

CREAMY CHICKEN BAKED WITH FENNEL & CARROTS

SERVES 4

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 large fennel bulb (about 320g/11oz), quartered and sliced

320g/11oz carrots, cut into batons

bunch of spring onions, thinly sliced

25g/1oz butter

2 garlic cloves, crushed

250ml/9fl oz/1 cup crème fraîche

125ml/4½fl oz/½ cup white wine

1 tsp Dijon mustard

salt and freshly ground black pepper

new potatoes or brown rice, to serve

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Put the chicken breasts in a large baking dish. Nestle the fennel and carrots around the chicken breasts and sprinkle the spring onions over the top. Melt the butter in a pan and gently fry the garlic for about 1 minute. Stir in the crème fraîche, wine and mustard and season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the chicken and vegetables, then bake for 20–25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Serve with new potatoes or brown rice.

images