Chicken Breast Stuffed With Goats Cheese And Basil Food

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH GOAT CHEESE, BASIL, AND A MUSHROOM SAUCE (FEATURING MEREDITH DAIRY)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream together the Meredith Dairy marinated sheep and goat cheese, basil, thyme, a few shakes of salt and some pepper. (The goat cheese is easier to mix and spread at room temperature).
• Pound the chicken breasts and spread half of the cheese mixture onto half of each breast as shown.
• Fold the ends in, then start rolling at the long end to form a cylinder.
• Tie with kitchen string or use toothpicks to secure the breasts. I've used both successfully, but the toothpicks can sometimes be more difficult to remove.
• Next, put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs (add some salt and pepper to the these) into shallow pans or dishes. Roll in flour, dip in egg, and then in breadcrumbs.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C) then heat 2 or 3 tablespoons of the oil from the Meredith Dairy jar in a cast iron skillet or other oven-proof pan.
• When hot, add the stuffed chicken breasts and brown all over. (NOTE: the chicken only needs to be browned on the outside, not thoroughly cooked, as we'll finish it off in the oven next.)
• Turn the burner off and put the cast iron pan into the oven for about 15 or 20 minutes. (While the chicken is in the oven, make the mushroom cream sauce.) Allow to cool for about 5 minutes then move to a wooden board.
• Put the oil and butter in a saute pan, then add the sliced mushrooms. Cook for about 6 minutes, then add a splash or two of white wine and salt and pepper.
• Cook for another 3 or 4 minutes then add the cream.
• Stir well and when it just starts to simmer, remove the pan from the heat and add 1 or 2 Tbsp of butter and swirl around. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Pour into a serving dish and keep warm.
• Remove the string and cut the stuffed chicken breast into 1/2 inch slices with a sharp knife. Arrange slices on a plate and serve with your desired sides, such as roast potatoes and a vegetable or salad. Adorn with a sprig of basil or thyme.
• Pass the mushroom sauce separately for guests to serve themselves.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• For chicken:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pound chicken between sheets of waxed paper to thickness of 1/4 inch using meat mallet. Pat chicken dry. Combine cheese, green onions and basil in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread cheese mixture lengthwise over half of each chicken piece. Tuck short ends in. Roll chicken up, starting at one long side, into tight cylinders. Tie ends with string to secure. Dip chicken in egg, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Roll in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate.)
• Place chicken in 8-inch square baking dish. Pour 2 tablespoons melted butter over. Bake until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• For sauce:
• Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add wine and boil 3 minutes. Add stock and boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and swirl in 4 tablespoons cold butter 1 piece at a time. Season sauce with salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove string from chicken. Cut rolls crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Fan on plates. Serve immediately, passing sauce separately.

GOAT'S CHEESE & THYME STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Split the chicken breasts almost in half from one long side and open them out like a book. Bat them out a little with a rolling pin to flatten them. Season on all sides. Put half the goat's cheese on each piece of chicken and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each one in two slices of the bacon.
• Lightly oil a shallow gratin dish, then arrange overlapping rows of courgettes and tomatoes over the base. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme sprigs. Sit the chicken on top.
• Bake for 40-45 mins until the bacon is crisp and golden and the courgettes are tender. Serve straight from the dish with new potatoes or good bread.

CHICKEN WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached.. Cut 12 thick slices of the Montrachet and place 2 slices plus a large basil leaf under the skin of each chicken breast. Rub each piece with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a chicken breast flat on a cutting board, using a sharp knife, about 1/3 of the way down the thick side, cut a deep pocket horizontally into the center of the meat about 3/4 of the way down, being careful not to cut through to the other side. (The pocket will be about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.) Repeat with the remaining breasts. Wash hands well.
• In a small bowl, mash together the goat cheese, butter, chives, parsley, thyme, lemon juice and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide into 4 equal pieces and form plugs to fit inside the chicken breasts. Insert 1 into each breast and press the edges of chicken meat to seal. Lightly season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• In a large shallow bowl, combine the flour and the Essence. In another bowl, beat the egg with the water.
• One at a time, lightly dust the chicken on both sides with the flour, then dip in the egg, shaking to remove any excess. Place again in the flour and turn to completely coat, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
• In a large, oven-proof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Arrange the risotto in the center of 4 plates and place the chicken to the side. Arrange the carrots along the bottom of the plates, and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to very low to keep hot.
• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until wilted and their liquid is evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque, about 1 minute. Stir in the thyme. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until nearly all evaporated. Add 3/4 cup of the stock, the salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the stock is nearly all evaporated. Continue adding more stock 1/2 cup at a time as the previous addition is nearly absorbed, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in cream, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and the parsley and mix well.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste. If desired, stir in truffle oil to taste.
• Serve immediately, topping each portion with a sprinkling of the remaining cheese and ham.
• In a large stockpot, combine all the ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally to remove any foam that forms on the surface.
• Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. (If necessary, strain again.) Remove the meat from the bones and reserve for another use. Discard the bones and vegetables. Let the stock cool completely, and refrigerate overnight. Skim any fat that forms on the surface. Keep refrigerated in airtight containers until ready to use, up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• On a cutting board, using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the carrots in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise. With the flat edge down, cut into thin slices. Place the slices in a stack and slice into even matchstick pieces. (If a fine dice is required, these pieces in turn are chopped into equal small cubes.)
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and blanch until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and shock in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking and preserve color.
• When ready to serve the carrots, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. When foamy, add the carrots and cook, stirring, until warmed through and glossy, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE, BASIL AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix goat cheese, tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and the 3 to 4 leaves of basil.
• Using a small sharp knife and working with one chicken breast at a time, cut a 2-inch-long horizontal slit into the thick side of chicken breast. Move knife back and forth in slit to form a pocket. Divide cheese mixture among chicken pockets. Press edges closed and secure with a toothpick to seal. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down; cook for 3 minutes or until skin is brown. Turn chicken over; transfer skillet to oven. Bake until cooked through (170 degrees F), about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a heavy small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Slice chicken and place on a serving plate. Drizzle lemon butter over chicken. Garnish with additional basil.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH GOATS CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• Wash and dry the chicken Breasts
• Cut a pocket in the side of each breast.
• Pick and roughly chop the basil leaves.
• Mix with the goat cheese and season with salt and pepper.
• Stuff the chicken breasts with the mixture and secure with toothpicks.
• Season with salt and pepper, heat the oil and brown on both sides .
• Reduce the heat and cook over a low heat for 20 minutes turning every so often.
• SALAD.
• Tear and wash the lettuce.
• Mix the honey and lemon juice and oil with a little water.
• Season with Salt and Pepper.
• Toss with the lettuce.
• Serve the chicken breasts over the tossed lettuce.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, make an incision in the side of each chicken breast, passing the knife though horizontally to make a slit but not cutting through the other side of the breast. With the paring knife inserted, rotate the knife to carve out a bit more space and create a pocket. Season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Lightly beat the egg white in a bowl to break it up, then add the goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, shallots, mustard and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag (or piping bag). Snip off a corner of the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into each chicken breast until filled.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and glistening. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down and cook until the skin turns a dark golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the butter, garlic and thyme, then flip and transfer the pan to the oven; cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

BALSAMIC GOAT CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir shallot until translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour balsamic vinegar into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until balsamic vinegar mixture is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Stir often.
• Cut chicken breasts from one side through the middle horizontally to within one-half inch of the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book.
• Spread half the goat cheese onto one half of each chicken breast and drizzle 1/3 of the reduced balsamic vinegar mixture over the goat cheese. Close the chicken breasts over the goat cheese and secure with toothpicks. Arrange chicken into a baking dish. Drizzle with remaining 1/3 of the balsamic reduction.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink inside, the filling is hot, and the juices run clear, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of a filled breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• For chicken: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pound chicken between sheets of waxed paper to thickness of 1/4 inch using meat mallet.
• Pat chicken dry.
• Combine cheese, green onions and basil in small bowl.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread cheese mixture lengthwise over half of each chicken piece.
• Tuck short ends in.
• Roll chicken up, starting at one long side, into tight cylinders.
• Tie ends with string to secure or secure with a toothpick (my preference).
• Dip chicken in egg, allowing excess to drip into bowl.
• Roll in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess.
• (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate.) Place chicken in 8-inch square baking dish.
• Pour 2 tablespoons melted butter over.
• Bake until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• For sauce: Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• Add mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Add flour and stir until butter and flour are smooth.
• Add wine and simmer 3 minutes.
• Add stock and continue simmering about 3 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Season sauce with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Remove string from chicken.
• Cut rolls crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds.
• Top with sauce and serve immediately.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE, BASIL AND RED PEPPER

Steps:

• For chicken: Preheat oven to 350F.
• Pound chicken between 2 sheets of wax paper to thickness of ¼ inch.
• Pat chicken dry.
• Combine cheese, green onions, red pepper and basil in a small bowl.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread cheese mixture lengthwise over half of each chicken piece.
• Tuck short ends in and roll chicken up, starting at one long side, into tight cylinders.
• Tie ends together with string to secure.
• Dip chicken in egg, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.
• Roll in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess (can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead; refrigerate).
• Place chicken in square baking dish to comfortably hold rolls.
• Pour 2 tblsps melted butter over.
• Bake until cooked through, about 20-25 minutes.
• For sauce: Melt ¼ cup butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add mushrooms and saute until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Add wine and boil for 3 minutes.
• Add stock and boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 6 minutes.
• Remove from heat and swirl in 4 tblsps of butter, one piece at a time.
• Season.
• Remove string from chicken.
• Cut rolls crosswise into ½ inch thick rounds.
• Fan on plates.
• Serve immediately, passing sauce separately.