Chicken Breasts In Foil With Tomatoes Olives And Parmesan Food

CHICKEN BREASTS IN FOIL WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven, and preheat to 450 degrees. Combine olives, sun-dried tomatoes, their oil and fresh herbs in bowl.
• Fold 12 squares of aluminum foil in half to make creases at center, unfold, and lightly coat shiny sides with teaspoon of vegetable oil on each. Lightly salt and pepper chicken breasts on both sides. Place each breast on shiny side of a piece of foil, just to one side of crease. Spoon tomato mixture over each breast, leaving 1/4-inch border around edges.
• Loosely fold foil over chicken, then crimp edges of packet to seal it tightly. Place packets on baking sheet, and bake on center rack for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. To avoid possibility of burning by steam, cut slit in packets before opening them.

CHICKEN BREASTS IN FOIL WITH ROSEMARY AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Tear off two sheets of aluminum foil, each about 18 inches square, and place one on top of the other. Use 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to smear a patch in the center of the foil, large enough to hold the chicken side by side. Make a bed of the spinach in the center, then top with the chicken breasts, salt and pepper to taste the rosemary sprigs and leaves, and another tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle the lemon zest and juice over the chicken.
• Fold the foil over the chicken onto itself and crimp the edges as tightly as possible by making 1- or 2-inch folds, one after the other, each sealing the other. Seal the package very tightly, but leave plenty of room around the chicken. (You can prepare the recipe up to 3 hours in advance to this point; refrigerate the package.)
• Place a skillet large enough to hold the package over high heat. A minute later, add the remaining oil, then pour out all but a film. Put the package in the skillet; it will sizzle. About 2 minutes later, the package will expand like a balloon; be careful of the escaping steam. Cook for 5 minutes longer from that point.
• Remove the package from the heat, again taking care to avoid any escaping steam. Let rest for 1 minute, then cut a slit down the length of the top with a knife. Use a knife and fork to open up the package, then spoon the chicken, spinach, and juices onto a plate and serve.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN WITH OLIVES

Steps:

• For the chicken: Using a meat mallet, evenly pound the chicken breast halves between 2 sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thickness. Put the chicken into a heavy resealable bag or 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add the oil, parsley, shallots and garlic; sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and mix in the bag or toss in the baking dish until the chicken is coated in the marinade. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Using tongs, remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing the oil to drain. (It's ok if some of the garlic and shallots still cling to the chicken.) Discard the marinade.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large (12- to 14-inch) skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the chicken breasts, 2 at a time, being sure to space them out in the skillet. (Avoid over-crowding, or you won't get a good sear.) Sear until light golden on the first side, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and sear on the other side until the chicken is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Cook the remaining 2 chicken breasts, adding another tablespoon of oil if needed. Reserve the skillet for the sauce.
• For the pan sauce: In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil if using and the garlic; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Pour out all but 2 tablespoons oil from the skillet. If the skillet is dry and more oil is needed, add about 2 tablespoons. Over medium heat, add the olives and shallots and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook, scraping up any browned bits in the skillet. Whisk in the chicken broth and any pan juices the chicken released on the platter and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid has reduced by half. Stir in the mustard, add the seasoned tomatoes and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper if needed.
• Spoon the sauce over the chicken on the platter, garnish with chopped herbs if using and serve immediately with the Winter Greens Salad on the side if desired.
• Put the arugula, frisee and radicchio into a salad bowl and toss to combine. Drizzle the vinegar over the greens and toss until coated; drizzle the oil over the top and toss again. Add the cheese, season with salt and pepper and toss until well combined. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN BREASTS WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet, heat the tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and saute until it is browned on all sides and just cooked through (about 7-10 minutes). Remove chicken and place on a plate.
• Add the teaspoons of olive oil and the onions to the pan, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes olives, oregano and basil and cook the sauce for 5-8 more minutes.
• Add the chicken and cook until it is heated through.
• Put the chicken on plates (over rice if desired), and spoon the sauce equally over the chicken.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Put the oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the chicken, skin side down. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook undisturbed, adjusting the heat so the chicken doesn't burn, until the pieces are browned on the bottom and release easily from the skillet, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue cooking, turning the chicken every few minutes, until it's brown all over, 5 to 10 minutes more. Remove the chicken from the pan and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.
• Add the onions and capers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomatoes; cook until the mixture starts to bubble and the tomatoes thicken slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the wine and let the mixture bubble for another 2 minutes.
• Add the olives and thyme, and return the chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces into the sauce. Adjust the heat so the liquid bubbles gently but steadily, then cover the skillet. Cook, turning the chicken every 10 minutes or so and adding a splash of stock or water if the sauce looks too dry, until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 155 to 165). Taste the sauce, and adjust the seasoning. Garnish with the parsley, and serve.

CHICKEN WITH TOMATO & OLIVES

Steps:

• Finely chop the stalks from a 20g pack basil and shred most of the leaves. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a medium frying pan, then soften 2 thinly sliced garlic cloves and the basil stalks for 3 mins.
• Tip in 2 x 400g cans cherry tomatoes, 1 tsp sugar and the shredded basil. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 mins until reduced and saucy. Season. Add a handful olives, the sliced meat from a whole cooked chicken and any juices. Gently stir. Simmer for 2 mins, scatter with basil leaves, then serve with crusty bread.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH OLIVES AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a shallow baking dish combine two tablespoons of the olive oil with half the garlic, the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts, turning them in the dish so they are coated with the marinade. Arrange them in a single layer in the dish, cover with plastic wrap and allow them to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Heat the remaining oil in a skillet. Add onion and remaining garlic and saute until tender but not brown. Add tomatoes and olives and allow to cook about 15 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in half the parsley and the thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread the tomato mixture over the marinated chicken breasts. Place in oven and bake about 20 minutes, until the chicken is done. Remove from oven and baste to combine juices in bottom of the pan with the tomato mixture on top. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve.