Can The Poached Chicken With Lardons And Lentils Be Made In A Slow Cooker?

Our answer

Nigella's Poached Chicken With Lardons And Lentils (from KITCHEN) is a comforting solo supper that is cooked in one pot. The chicken, lentils, bacon and vegetables are simmered gently on the stove until the lentils are tender and the chicken is cooked through.

The dish itself requires very little hands-on time but if you need to do something else while it is cooking and are not sure about leaving a pan on the stove, then a slow cooker is probably the best alterrnative. Most slow cookers can also switch to "keep warm" once the dish is cooked, so if you are running late you don't have to worry about it cooking for too long. If you slow cooker does not have a pot that is suitable for direct heat then you may need to cook the lardons, carrot, leek, parsley, mint, lemon zest and garlic in a frying pan (steps 1 and 2) and then transfer them to the slow cooker. Add the mustard and lentiils, stir and sit the chicken on top. Add the water, but use water from a freshly-boiled kettle, cover and switch on to high. If the pot is large then you may need to add a little extra water to make sure that the lentils are properly covered with liquid. The dish is probably going to take around 3 hours to cook. However, slow cooker models do vary so it is worth checking the manufacturer's handbook for timings and check that the chicken is cooked all of the way through before serving.