Broiled Pesto Chicken With Cherry Tomatoes Food

BROILED PESTO CHICKEN WITH CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly coat a baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a bowl, toss the cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the pesto and season with salt and pepper. Coat the chicken breasts with the remaining 3 tablespoons pesto and season with additional salt, if desired.
• Arrange the chicken in the prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bake for 10 more minutes, or until the juices run clear when the chicken is pricked with a fork.
• Pestos vary in their salt content, so take a little taste of the pesto before it goes on the chicken and season accordingly.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN WITH ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Use a small sharp knife to make a slit along the side of each chicken breast to form a pocket. Mix together the pesto and mascarpone, then carefully spoon a quarter of the mixture into each chicken breast and smooth over the opening to seal.
• Brush a little oil, about 1 tsp, all over each chicken breast and season well. Tip the breadcrumbs onto a large plate and season. Place each breast on the plate and press all over with the breadcrumbs. Place in a lightly oiled shallow baking dish along with the tomatoes (kept together on the vine in a couple of bunches). Drizzle over the remaining oil.
• Cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until the chicken starts to turn golden and is cooked through. Scatter over the pine nuts and cook for 2 mins more. Sprinkle with basil leaves and serve with new potatoes or crusty bread.

SAUTEED CHICKEN WITH CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat 12 inch skillet, Dutch oven or casserole with lid. Pour in oil and heat until quite hot. Line pan with a batch of chicken breasts and fry over high heat until golden brown on one side, about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Turn over and brown other side. Remove with tongs and continue browning remaining pieces. Set chicken aside.
• Reduce heat to medium, put garlic and shallots in pan, and saute until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add oregano, white wine, salt and pepper and saute uncovered about 4 to 4 1/2 minutes, shaking pan from time to time.Add tomatoes and return chicken to pan, cover and cook about 10 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is done. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
• Scoop chicken out onto a platter and serve with rice or over mashed potatoes.

LEMON AND GARLIC CHICKEN WITH CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Stir together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Cut each chicken breast into 2 equal pieces (3 if they weigh 12 ounces or more) and place in the bowl. Stir together and refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes.
• Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with paper towels (discard marinade). Place two sheets of plastic wrap (1 large sheet if you have extra-wide wrap) on your work surface, overlapping slightly, to make 1 wide sheet, and brush lightly with olive oil. Place a piece of chicken in the middle of plastic sheet and brush lightly with oil. Cover the chicken with another wide layer of plastic wrap. Working from the center to the outside, pound chicken breast with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until about 1/4 inch thick. (Don't pound too hard or you'll tear the meat. If that happens it won't be the end of the world, you'll just have a few pieces to cook.) Repeat with the remaining chicken breast pieces.
• Season the pounded chicken breasts with salt and pepper on one side only. Dredge lightly in the flour (you will not use all of it) and tap the breasts to remove excess.
• Turn oven on low. Heat a wide, heavy skillet over high heat and add oil. When oil is hot, place one or two pieces of chicken in the pan - however many will fit without crowding. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes, until bottom is browned in spots. Turn over and brown other side, about 1 1/2 minutes. (Do not overcook or chicken will be dry.) Transfer to a platter or sheet pan and keep warm in the oven. If there is more than a tablespoon of fat in the pan, pour some off into a jar or bowl.
• Turn heat on burner down to medium-high. Add wine to pan and stir with a wooden spoon to deglaze. Add cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they begin to shrivel and burst. Add sugar and salt and pepper to taste and continue to cook, tossing the tomatoes in the pan and stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes, until tomatoes have collapsed but are still intact. Top chicken breasts with the tomatoes, sprinkle with parsley and with Parmesan if using, and serve.