How to Make Garlic Chicken with Cucumbers and Grapes

This is a nice light meal for the summer (or to serve anytime). It also is a different way to use those cucumbers that you might have growing in your garden. I particularly like the grapes; however, you can substitute chunks of ripe mangoes if you wish. Serve with a rice pilaf and/or steamed vegetables.

Serves 4.

Ingredients:
4 skinless chicken breasts
1 clove garlic cut in half
Kosher salt (to taste)
Freshly-ground black pepper (to-taste)
1 cucumber cut into julienne strips
4 ounce seedless red grapes cut in half

Ingredients for sauce:
½ cup chicken stock
6 tablespoons light cream or half-and-half
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 egg yolk

For the chicken:

Step 1: Rinse chicken in cold water and pat dry. Rub both sides with the garlic. Salt and pepper to taste.

Step 2: Place chicken with the garlic on the lower tier of a steamer and steam for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Put the cucumber and grapes in the second tier of the steamer and place over the chicken. Steam both tiers for 5 minutes or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

For the sauce:

Step 1: Mix all of the ingredients for the sauce, excluding the egg, in a small saucepan. Heat gently. (Do not boil.)

Step 2: Remove mix from heat and whisk in the egg yolk.

Step 3: Stir in the cucumbers and grapes from the steamer. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.