Chicken Breasts En Papilotte Food

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small bowl, whisk mustard, vinegar, and a pinch each of sugar, salt, and pepper together. Continue to whisk while slowly drizzling olive oil in until completely combined.
• Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Cut 4 pieces of parchment paper into 16-by-18-inch pieces. Fold each sheet in half lengthwise, then open and place on a work surface. Divide asparagus evenly among the four pieces of parchment; place them on the left side of the fold near the crease, centered evenly between the top and bottom of the parchment paper. Place a chicken breast on top of each bed of asparagus. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Top chicken breasts with tomatoes, olives, artichokes, basil, and feta. Drizzle each with about 1 tablespoon more vinaigrette.
• Fold the right half of one parchment paper over contents and, starting with the top right corner, form a half-moon packet making small but tight pleats all the way around to seal completely. Repeat process to form remaining packets.
• Transfer the packets to rimmed baking sheets and cook for 25 to 28 minutes. To serve, place packets directly on each of four plates and use kitchen shears or a sharp knife tip to open packets at the table.

CHICKEN EN PAPILOTTE MANY WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Rub the olive paste on both sides of each chicken breast half.
• Cut the potatoes into 1/16th-inch slices and thinly slice the tomatoes. Set 4 12-inch squares of foil on the counter. Lightly oil the center of each piece of foil and spread some potato slices in the middle; season them with salt and pepper. Cover the potatoes with a chicken breast half, then cover with more potato slices, salt and pepper and the tomato slices. Wrap the chicken airtight, in a deli sandwich wrap, and set the packages on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.
• When the chicken is done unwrap the packages carefully (be careful the steam which will escape when you open the packages does not burn your hands.) Transfer the chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and the natural juices to deep plates.
• Variations: Instead of the potatoes spread 1/2 cup drained canned white beans, a couple of slivers of fresh garlic, a leaf or two of fresh sage and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil underneath the chicken. Top the chicken with the tomatoes. Or spread each chicken breast half with 1 teaspoon each of oriental sesame oil, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Top each chicken breast half with 1/2 cup sliced jicama; 1 cup raw fresh spinach and 1 sliced scallion. Open and garnish with sesame seeds. Or, instead of the green olive paste and tomatoes, season each chicken breast half with barbecue sauce or ketchup and top with 1/2 cup of frozen corn kernels; leave the potatoes in (especially good for kids)

CHICKEN BREASTS EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Spread a large piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Invert a 12- or 14-inch round cake pan on it and trace around the edge with a sharp knife to make a circle. Repeat until there are 4.
• Cut off and discard the stem of each mushroom and cut caps into thin slices.
• Cut carrots crosswise into 1 1/2-inch lengths. Cut each piece lengthwise into a julienne shape.
• Trim and wash zucchini, and cut in the same fashion.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Place aluminum rounds on a flat surface and brush them with melted butter.
• Place one chicken breast on each round slightly below the center, leaving a margin large enough to fold over.
• Brush the top of each breast with about 2 teaspoons of mustard and place equal quantities of mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, shallots, thyme around each. Sprinkle each serving with a tablespoon of white wine and parsley, and dot with remaining butter. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Fold foil to completely enclose the contents while leaving some room for expansion. Crimp the seal as tightly as possible. Arrange packages on a baking sheet and bake about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN BREASTS AND TARRAGON EN PAPILLOTE (FRANCE)

Steps:

• Cut each tomato into 4 thick slices, then salt both sices & lay them out in a single layer to drain on paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut one of the chicken breasts into 6 pieces & lay them in the center of a 12-inch square of heavy aluminum foil.
• Season the chicken with salt, pepper & cayenne, to taste, then top the chicken with 2 slices of tomato & 1/4 of the tarragon leaves.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil over the tomatoes as well as a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
• Season the tomatoes with additional salt & pepper, to taste.
• Bring 2 opposite edges of the foil together over the top & fold them down over the chicken, then fold the sides up & over the chicken to create a packet.
• Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts, then put the 4 packets on a baking sheet & bake for 15 minutes.
• When chicken is done, open the packets & drain the liquid into a small bowl.
• Add the mustard to the liquid, mixing well.
• Serve the chicken in the packet on a plate, & drizzle the sauce over the top.