Carciofo Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Food

ITALIAN STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim the stem of an artichoke so the base is flat and even. Trim the top inch off the artichoke and remove and discard any tough, woody outer leaves. Gently open up the leaves to get to the center. Using a spoon, scoop out the fuzzy choke in the center. Using scissors, trim off the sharp points of the large outer leaves. Rub and pour lemon juice all over the inside and outside (reserve half of the juice). Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Mix together pulverized crackers, Pecorino, olive oil, parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon zest and salt and pepper.
• Pack each artichoke with the stuffing mixture, starting with the interior and working your way around between the outer leaves. Continue this process with the remaining artichokes. Place artichokes in an 8-inch square baking dish and add about 1 inch of chicken stock and the reserved lemon juice to the bottom of the dish. Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake until leaves pull out easily and the meat at the bottom of the leaves is tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Take off foil, drizzle the artichokes with olive oil and broil until tops are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve!

PARMESAN ARTICHOKE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Mix the artichokes, Parmesan, and thyme in a small bowl.
• Cut a 2-inch pocket in the thickest part of each chicken breast.
• Stuff a quarter of the artichoke mixture into each pocket.
• Rub the breasts with EVOO and and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium. Grill the chicken, turning once, until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes per side.

CARCIOFI RIPIENI (STUFFED ARTICHOKES)

Steps:

• Remove as many as the outer leaves of the artichokes as look tough, bruised or split. Don't worry about taking off too many; there are plenty under there. Trim the stem, but not too far, and create a flat bottom for the artichokes. Cut off about 1/2 inch of the tops with a sharp blade.
• Rinse each artichoke under water, and place in a large bowl of water into which you have squeezed half the lemon. This acidulated water will keep them from turning brown on their cut edges.
• Drain the artichokes upside down on a clean dish cloth, while you prepare the filling. Put all the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a bowl and mix well. Now, hold each trimmed artichoke over the bowl, and spread the leaves with the fingers of one hand, while filling the gaps with a teaspoon and the bread crumb mixture. The goal is to get as much of the filling distributed as evenly as one can.
• Place all the filled artichokes in a baking dish, and liberally pour olive oil to taste over each one - nearly a tablespoon for each is about the right amount. Pour a scant cup of water, or even water and white wine, into the baking dish. Cut the remaining piece of lemon up, and tuck around the artichokes. Cover securely with foil, and bake at 350F for about 1 and 1/2 hours. The leaves should pull out easily when they are done.
• These should be cooled a bit before serving. Enjoy.

ARTICHOKE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Line sheet pan with aluminum foil and treat with nonstick cooking spray.
• Slice chicken breast in half carefully and open up to a larger piece (butterfly).
• Salt and pepper both sides.
• Mix next 7 ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup mozz cheese for the topping.
• Place 1 Tbsp of filling on each opened breast and fold over gently.
• Bake for 30 min or until chicken is done. (this could vary due to the thickness of the chicken breast and your oven).
• Take out and top each breast with 1 Tbsp of mozz cheese, a bit of reserved minced red onion and italian seasoning.
• Put back in the oven for 5 min, or until cheese just starts to melt.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Place each chicken breast on a flat surface. Season both sides of each breast with the Italian seasoning and paprika. With your hand supporting each piece, cut a slit or pocket about 3/4 quarter of the way through, being careful not to cut all the way.
• Squeeze any and all excess liquid out of the spinach and discard the water. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the spinach, cream cheese, artichokes, mozzarella, parmesan and garlic; mix well to combine.
• Stuff chicken with 1-2 tablespoons of the spinach artichoke dip, spreading evenly with the back of the spoon. Reserve the leftover dip for later.*
• Seal chicken breasts with two or three toothpicks near the opening to keep the dip inside while cooking.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet or non stick pan over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden. Flip and sear on the other side, covering pan with a lid, until cooked through, (about 6 to 7 minutes per side). Transfer chicken to a warm plate to make the cream sauce.
• Combine half and half or heavy cream with the remaining dip (you should have exactly half remaining). Stir until sauce is combined and thickened. Add the chicken back into the pan and serve immediately!

ARTICHOKE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the oil is hot add the onions and saute until translucent. Stir in the artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes, then add the salt, pepper and garlic. When the garlic begins to lightly brown, deglaze with 1/4 cup of the white wine. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the butter, allow it to melt, then toss in the Parmesan and parsley.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool before stuffing the chicken breast.
• Rinse, trim and pound out chicken breasts to about 1/4-inch thick. Do not over-pound as holes in the chicken will make it difficult for the chicken to retain the stuffing.
• Put 1/4 of the stuffing mixture at 1 end of a chicken breast. Gentle roll the chicken breast folding the ends in to help keep the stuffing from coming out during the cooking process. Secure the chicken roll with 2 toothpicks. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts and stuffing.
• Heat the 2 tablespoons of the remaining oil in a medium saute pan over high heat. Add the chicken breasts, with the secured side of the chicken first, to insure the roll with stay together. Brown the chicken on all sides, add remaining butter, and deglaze with remaining white wine.
• Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the chicken to a cutting board and discard the toothpicks. Slice each breast on a bias into 5 pieces and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with remaining pan drippings, garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan and serve.

POLLO AL CARCIOFI (CHICKEN WITH ARTICHOKES) RECIPE

Steps:

• Trim the artichokes and cut them into halves or wedges, about 1-1/2 inches wide; soak them in acidulated water. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Cut it up into 10 or 12 pieces (including the backbone) and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat the olive oil in the big saucepan over medium-high heat and lay in the chicken pieces without crowding-cook them in batches if necessary. Brown the pieces for about 3 minutes, turn and cook another 3 minutes until each is nicely colored on all sides. Remove the pieces to a platter or bowl. When the chicken is all out of the pan, drop the crushed garlic into the hot fat and cook it for a minute or two, until sizzling. Lift the artichoke wedges out of the water and drop them, still damp, into the saucepan. Stir well and season them with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the peperoncino. Cook the artichokes for 4 or 5 minutes, tossing them often and deglazing the browned bits on the pan bottom. When the artichokes are dry and starting to take on color, pour in the wine and cook over high heat, stirring, until it is nearly evaporated, about 3 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and 3 cups of water; slosh the tomato containers with some of the water to rinse them. Cover the pan and bring the liquid to a boil. Adjust the heat to maintain a steady bubbling and cook the artichokes and sauce for about 15 minutes. Return all the chicken pieces (and any accumulated juices in the platter) to the saucepan, submerging them in the sauce. Cover the pan, get the sauce perking again and cook chicken and artichokes together for about 40 minutes. The chicken should be nearly done, the artichokes tender and the sauce somewhat reduced. Set the cover ajar-or remove it altogether-and continue cooking 15 minutes or more until the sauce has thickened and coats the chicken and artichoke pieces. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve right away or-for the best flavor-let the chicken cool in the pot and reheat later. If the sauce has thickened, stir in a bit of water. Serve hot from the pan or from a big bowl, if you prefer. Sprinkle over the parsley just before serving.

SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Combine mozzarella, garlic, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup mayo in large bowl. Add artichokes and spinach; mix lightly.
• Use sharp knife to make lengthwise slit in thickest side of each chicken breast, being careful to not cut through to opposite side of chicken. Fill pockets with spinach mixture; place on rimmed baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Spread remaining mayo onto tops of chicken breasts. Combine cracker crumbs and remaining Parmesan; sprinkle over chicken.
• Bake 20 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).

ARTICHOKE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST, BUT WITH A DIFFERENT HAT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Line sheet pan with aluminum foil and treat with nonstick cooking spray.
• Slice chicken breast in half carefully and open up to a larger piece (butterfly).
• Salt and pepper both sides.
• Mix next 7 ingredients, reserving 1/4 cup mozz cheese for the topping.
• Place 1 Tbsp of filling on each opened breast and fold over gently (egg roll-style)
• Bake for 30 min or until chicken is done. (this could vary due to the thickness of the chicken breast and your oven).
• Take out and top each breast with half of sliced red pepper and one slice of Provolone cheese, and italian seasoning.
• Put back in the oven for 5 - 10 min, or until cheese just starts to melt.