Stir in chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is halfway cooked, about 1 1/2 minutes. 4. Add noodles, carrots and bok choy and cook until tender, about 1 to 2 minutes.

My previous go-to poaching method was inspired by the late, great writer Laurie Colwin, who wrote in “Home Cooking,” her charming collection of essays, that “the chicken breasts must be ...