Creamy Asiago Chicken Food

CREAMY BAKED ASIAGO CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Place chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Whisk together Asiago cheese, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, wine, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Pour evenly over chicken breasts.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 40 to 50 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Top with black pepper, balsamic vinegar, and additional Asiago cheese just before serving.

CREAMY HERBED CHICKEN AND ARUGULA PASTA SALAD WITH ASIAGO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, chives, sour cream, parsley, tarragon, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot; brush with the oil. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken, turning once, until well-marked and just cooked through, about 7 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the chicken, arugula, Asiago and onion to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

STUFFED ASIAGO CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
• Combine Asiago cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, bread crumbs, parsley, and Kalamata olives in a bowl for the filling. Place about 1/4 of the filling on the center of each chicken breast. Roll up jelly-roll style, securing the edges with toothpicks to keep the chicken breasts from unrolling. Rub the top of each chicken breast with olive oil, place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from oven, tent loosely with foil, and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until mushrooms start to brown, about 4 minutes. Add thyme leaves and white wine, stirring and deglazing the skillet, and cook for 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Cook until sauce starts to slightly thicken. Add 1/2 cup Asiago cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat immediately; overcooking the Asiago cheese will create a lumpy, stringy sauce.
• Slice each chicken breast into 1/2-inch thick slices, and drizzle with Asiago sauce. Garnish with thyme and serve immediately.

MUSHROOM ASIAGO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pound chicken breast with a meat mallet between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap until meat is uniform thickness; about 1/4-inch. Cut into serving-sized pieces (2 or 3 pieces per breast).
• Heat the butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in deep, heavy skillet or saute pan over medium heat.
• Dredge chicken in seasoned flour. Add to hot oil/butter in skillet. Saute until golden on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from pan.
• Add remaining olive oil to hot skillet. Saute mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms begin to brown.
• Add white wine to skillet, scraping up all the browned bits that are at the bottom of the pan (this is called "deglazing"). Bruise the fresh thyme by twisting it between your fingers or hitting it with the dull side of a knife in a few places. Add thyme to mushroom/wine mixture in pan.
• Add the chicken back to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from pan. Add the cream and heat through. Add the asiago cheese (if you like it strongly flavored, use 1/2 cup; not as strongly flavored, use the 1/4 cup--asiago is a powerful cheese and you can even use less for just a whisper of flavor. I like it strong so I used 1/2 cup).
• Cook, stirring constantly over low heat until cheese melts. Continue cooking until sauce is reduced by about half. If you wish to skip the reduction step, you may thicken the sauce slightly with about 1 tbs instant flour or 1 tbs cornstarch mixed with 2 tbs water -- however, the reduction will taste better.
• Add chicken back to pan and heat through.
• Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme. May be served over any pasta.

ASIAGO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan melt 2 ounces butter.
• Add onions and chopped garlic.
• Saute over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Add flour and mix thoroughly.
• Cook for 4 minutes, then add the chicken broth, let thicken and add the cream and reduce for 20 minutes.
• Add the salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Whisk in white wine and let simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Turn off the flame and whisk in the other 1 ounce of butter and asiago cheese.
• Cool in refrigerator.