Apricot And Cashew Stuffed Chicken Breast Food

APRICOT AND CASHEW STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius (375 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Cut a deep pocket towards the tip through the side of each piece of chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• In a pan sauté the onions and half the cashews in 2 tablespoons of the butter.
• When lightly coloured add parsley, apricots and almond meal, salt and pepper and mix well.
• Fill the chicken pieces, roll and close with toothpicks.
• Season well.
• Wipe out the pan; add oil and brown the chicken breasts on both sides. Do this in two batches if need be.
• Transfer to an oven dish and add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cashews.
• Bake for 15 minutes until chicken is lightly browned, basting with the pan juices.
• Serve with vegetables or salad.

CASHEW CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine the preserves, mustard and curry powder in a large skillet and heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until preserves are completely melted and smooth.
• Place cashews in a shallow dish or bowl. Dip chicken breasts in skillet sauce, then roll in nuts to coat and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes. Boil any remaining sauce and serve on the side with the baked chicken.

APRICOT CHICKEN WITH CASHEWS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients.
• Add chicken and toss to coat.
• Transfer to a shallow microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring once.
• Add green pepper and cashews.
• Cover and microwave on high for 2-4 minutes or until chicken juices run clear, stirring once.
• Let stand for 3 minutes.
• Serve with rice.
• Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

CHICKEN WITH CASHEW STUFFING

Steps:

• Combine all Stuffing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
• Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry.
• Place chicken breast between two sheets of waxed paper.
• Working from center, gently pound chicken with rolling pin or flat side of meat mallet until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Spread stuffing evenly over breast and roll breast up (like a sleeping bag).
• Place in buttered baking dish and brush tops of breast with butter.
• Cook at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS W/ APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Rinse and then pat dry two whole chicken breasts, preferably on the bone, skin attached.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, including under the skin, and in the natural split in the meat. This is where the stuffing will go.
• Set aside in refrigerator while preparing the stuffing.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Sauté diced vegetables for stuffing in enough vegetable oil to coat the pan.
• Start with the onion, then add the mushrooms, celery, adding the herbs last, until all the vegetables are soft and aromatic.
• Add sauté to cubes of bread in a bowl off of the heat, mixing together.
• Add hot stock (veggie stock is fine, here too) a little at a time, making sure the bread soaks it up.
• Add one lightly scrambled egg to the mixture.
• Take out your chicken a prepare to stuff! Use your fingers to open the split further, and start filling it in with stuffing, until just a bit is mounding out of the chicken. The moisture of the stuffing will help to keep in it place.
• You may use cotton kitchen string to keep skin and stuffing all in place, or toothpicks.
• Heat a large sauté pan to medium high, with enough oil to coat the pan(I use the same pan I sauté the vegetables in).
• Add the breasts skin side down until the skin is turning golden.
• While chicken is in pan, mix apricot jam with water, heating in microwave to soften, approximately one minute.
• Turn breasts in pan over and sear for five minutes.
• Turning off heat on stove top, coat the chicken, skin side up, with the apricot glaze, and letting any excess pour into pan.
• Place in the oven until done, about fifteen more minutes. Using a meat thermometer, the chicken should be at about 175 - 180°F.
• If serving several courses, these breasts can be served in halves. It's quite a bit of meat, and looks nice cut crosswise, showing the stuffing.

CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine remaining ingredients, except butter.
• Using your finger, carefully separate skin from flesh, leaving one side attached.
• Lift unattached skin and spoon 1/6 of stuffing between skin and chicken, smooth and close opening with a toothpick.
• Place skin side up in a shallow baking dish, brush with melted butter and bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile prepare the sauce:.
• In a sauce pan combine chicken broth, apricot nectar and cornstarch, cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
• Add brandy and chopped apricots, cook 2 minutes more.
• To serve, pour sauce over chicken and garnish with chopped chives or parsley.