Pan-seared chicken verjus with pearled barley & mushrooms à la grecque

1. Cook the barley:
Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the barley. Cook 25 to 27 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain thoroughly and transfer to a large bowl.

2. Prepare the ingredients:
While the barley cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Quarter the mushrooms. Peel and thinly slice the garlic. Peel the carrots and cut into thin rounds. Separate the chard stems and leaves. Thinly slice the stems; roughly chop the leaves. Pick the thyme off the stems; discard the stems and roughly chop the leaves.

3. Cook the chicken:
While the barley continues to cook, pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season both sides with salt and pepper. In a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chicken, skin sides down. Cook 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (the juices should run clear). Transfer to a plate, leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan. Loosely cover the cooked chicken with aluminum foil. Set aside.

4. Cook the chard & finish the barley:
Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan of reserved fond; heat on medium-high until hot. Add the chard stems and half the garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the chard leaves and ¼ cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 5 minutes, or until wilted. Transfer to the bowl of barley. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Wipe out the pan.

5. Cook the vegetables:
In the same pan used to cook the chard, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the mushrooms and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until the mushrooms are browned and the onions are tender. Add the carrots, thyme and remaining garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the carrots are slightly tender.

6. Finish & plate your dish:
Add the chicken demi-glace, verjus and 1 cup of water to the pan of vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Add the chicken; cook, occasionally spooning the broth over it, 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from heat. Transfer the chicken to a clean work surface. Slice the rested chicken crosswise. Divide the finished barley between two bowls. Top with the cooked vegetables, sliced chicken and verjus broth. Enjoy!