Chicken A la king

Chicken Ala king by chef Ankit gaurav

Chicken a la King is a dish consisting of diced chicken in a cream sauce, and often flavored with sherry, mushrooms, and vegetables, served with rice, noodles, or bread. 

History

It is said that Chef George Greenwald of the Brighton Beach Hotel in Brighton Beach created the dish in 1898, naming it after patron E. Clarke King II and his wife. Another account is that chicken A la King was created in the 1890s by hotel cook William “Bill” King of the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia.

Chicken Ala king is one of those classic comfort foods that reminds me of my beginning as a chef.I can recall learning how to make chicken Ala king during my practical classes  – It is really the wholesome, hearty, easy, creamy, delicious food.

Prep time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 30 mins

Level : medium hard

Serving : 4 pax

Ingredients

  1. Chicken (diced) – 4 cups 
  2. Butter – 4 tablespoons 
  3. Onions (sliced) – 2 cup
  4. Garlic (chopped) – 1 tablespoon
  5. Green capsicum (diced) – 1 cup
  6. Red bell pepper (diced) – 1/2 cup
  7. Yellow bell pepper – 1/2 cup
  8. Mushrooms (diced)  – 1-1/2 cup
  9. Green peas – 1 cup
  10. Flour – 1/4 cup
  11. Dry sherry – 1/2  cup
  12. Chicken stock – 4 cup
  13. Fresh Parsley (chopped) – 1/2  cup
  14. Fresh Thyme (chopped) – 1 tablespoon
  15. Nutmeg – a pinch
  16. Salt – to taste
  17. Black pepper –  to taste
  18. Cream – 1 cup 

Method

  1. Heat a pan, add oil and butter, add garlic and saute. Add diced chicken ,chopped thyme and stir frequently. Add salt and pepper. Stir frequently.
  2. Add dry sherry and chicken stock. Cook the chicken properly. Remove scum. 
  3. Once the chicken is cooked, remove the chicken pieces from the cooking stock. Keep aside.
  4. In a saucepan, heat oil and butter, add sliced onion and saute it. Add bell peppers and capsicum. Add mushrooms and green peas. Saute it.
  5. Add flour and stir until it is fully combined in the pan over medium heat. Add 2 cup chicken stock and whisk. Bring the mixture just to boil. Add nutmeg , salt and black  pepper. 
  6. Add chicken into the mixture. Stirring frequently.
  7. Beat the cream and add into the chicken mixture to finish the dish. 
  8. Stir and adjust the seasoning.
  9. Transfer the dish into a serving bowl. Garnish with chopped parsley.
  10. Serve hot with rice/ toasted bread.