Crispy Pancetta Chicken With Sage Food

CHICKEN BALLOTTINES WITH SAGE & PANCETTA

Steps:

• Firstly neaten the ends of the drumsticks. Using a small sharp knife, make a cut all around each chicken leg, about 4cm up from the knuckle end. Holding the leg like a gun, squeeze it tight to pull the skin taut, then scrape down to the bottom of the bone to remove the tendons and clean the bone, turning the leg as you go (scissors are good for cutting the tendons). Now position your knife across the bottom of the exposed bone and bash the knife with a rolling pin or meat mallet - the bone will break smoothly.
• Lay the chicken legs skin-side down, pull the flaps of skin back and cut the flesh with a very sharp small knife on either side of the thigh bone using a shaving action. Once the bone is exposed, prise it out, then twist and snap it with your fingers to free it from the drumstick. If it doesn't snap clean you may have to cut it. You now have a part-boned chicken leg.
• Lightly sauté the mushrooms in a little hot olive oil for about 5 minutes until lightly browned, season well and leave to cool. Open out the boned chicken legs and spoon in the mushrooms. Cut the end off each chipolata and squeeze the sausagemeat over the mushrooms, using the chipolata skin as a piping bag. Push sausagemeat with your fingers right to the top of the thigh, then close the flaps and pull the skin across to secure. Now roll the legs over to make the parcels as neat as possible, then hold the exposed bone and straighten out each leg.
• Cut 4 sheets of foil (enough to wrap each chicken leg comfortably). Lay 6-7 rashers of pancetta down the centre of each sheet, overlapping slightly, then put the chicken legs crossways over the pancetta and top each leg with 2 sage leaves. Lift up the edge of the foil that is furthest away from you, bring it over the chicken and press down on the chicken, so that the pancetta comes away from the foil and sticks to the chicken. Repeat with the other side of the foil so the chicken legs are all wrapped in pancetta.
• Roll each leg in the foil, tucking it in and pressing it tight to the chicken to form a neat cylinder. Lift the cylinder up by the bone at one end and roll the foil at both ends, twisting to make a cracker shape.
• Preheat oven to fan 200C/conventional 220C/gas 7. Put the chicken parcels on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes, turning them twice. Turning them like this ensures they will be evenly coloured. Turn the oven down to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4 and roast for a further 30 minutes, turning once. Remove and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Unwrap, tipping the juices on to a plate.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil and a knob of butter in a non-stick sauté pan until hot and foaming. Put the chicken legs in the pan and brown over a high heat on all sides, basting frequently and turning with a pair of tongs. As they start to brown, add a few small knobs of butter one at a time to the fat in the pan (adding the butter a little at a time keeps it fresh and prevents scorching). Lift the chicken legs from the pan and roll them around in the juices on the plate so they pick up a nice glaze.
• Cut the stuffed thigh meat of each chicken leg on the diagonal into 3 slices each. Don't slice the meat too thin or it will get cold. Spoon the polenta on to the plates, stand the drumsticks in the middle and lay 3 slices of stuffed chicken in front. Drizzle with a little vinaigrette and serve immediately, with roasted tomatoes on the side.

CRISPY SAGE CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk buttermilk, salt, pepper sauce and pepper until blended. Add chicken, turning to coat; let stand 15 minutes. In a shallow bowl, toss bread crumbs with sage. , In a deep skillet, heat 1 in. of oil to 365°. Dip tenderloins in crumb mixture to coat both sides, patting to help coating adhere. Fry chicken 2-3 minutes on each side or until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with additional salt to taste. If desired, serve with ranch dressing.

CHICKEN CUTLETS "SALTIMBOCCA" WITH PROSCIUTTO AND SAGE

Steps:

• Prepare the cutlets: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken cutlets with salt. Put the eggs and breadcrumbs into two separate wide shallow bowls. Dip each chicken cutlet in the egg and then the breadcrumbs. Shake any excess off each one. Transfer to the lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
• Cook the sage and prosciutto: In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil. Tear 2 of the prosciutto slices into smaller pieces and add to the oil in the skillet. Cook over low heat until crispy, 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining prosciutto. Remove the prosciutto from the skillet and add the sage leaves. Cook until they turn pale in color and become crispy, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Season with salt. If the skillet looks dry, add another tablespoon of olive oil. Remove the skillet from the heat, stir the garlic into the oil and season with salt. Allow the garlic to simmer in the warm oil for about a minute to cook off the raw flavor. Transfer the garlic and oil to a medium bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or fit with a wire rack.
• Cook the chicken: Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until it smokes lightly. Working in batches, add the chicken cutlets to the pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked cutlets to the baking sheet. Season with salt. Place the baking sheet in the oven to keep the chicken warm. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Make the vinaigrette and finish the dish: Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil into the bowl with the reserved garlic and oil. Taste for seasoning. Arrange the cutlets on a serving platter and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Top with the sage leaves and prosciutto.

CRISPY PANCETTA CHICKEN WITH SAGE

Steps:

• 1. Wash and dry the chicken. Remove the tenderloin and set aside for another use. Season both sides lightly with kosher salt and pepper. Using a fork, spread the roasted garlic, if using, all over the chicken breasts. On the top side of the breast, lay 1 slice of pancetta over the lower portion of the breast, wrapping it snugly so it adheres. Lay a sage leaf on the center of the breast, and wrap the upper portion with a second slice of pancetta. Turn the breast over and wrap a third slice of pancetta over the back of the breast. Repeat with the remaining chicken, transferring the pieces to a plate as you go. (The chicken can be made in advance up to this point. Just wrap tightly in plastic wrap & refrigerate.).
• 2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 3. Toss the potatoes, lemon, 10 sage leaves, oil, and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper in a large bowl until well coated.
• 4. Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet or grill pan over high heat until it is very hot. Drizzle the pancetta-wrapped chicken with oil and place in the pan with the sage leaf side down. Cook over high heat until the pancetta is brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the breasts over and transfer the pan to the upper rack of the oven for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
• 5. Remove the chicken from the pan, transfer to a plate and set aside. Deglaze the pan with the wine over high heat. Reduce the wine until almost evaporated, and add the chicken stock. Continue to cook until reduced by half.
• 6. Transfer the chicken to a large platter.

PANCETTA CHICKEN WRAPS

Steps:

• Arrange a quarter of the pancetta slices in a row on a board, overlapping them slightly along their long sides. Put a chicken breast at one end so that it lies across the slices of pancetta, top with 3 sage leaves and sprinkle with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Wrap the chicken in the pancetta so that it is completely enclosed. Repeat to make 4 parcels altogether.
• Spoon the oil into a large heavy pan (a cast-iron sauté pan is ideal, or you could use a roasting tin). Put the pan on the barbecue and heat for 1-2 mins until hot, then lay the chicken parcels in the pan and cook for 7-8 mins on each side. The pancetta will become golden and crispy.
• Remove the parcels, lay the tomatoes in the pan and shake to coat in the cooking juices, then heat through for a couple of minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, take the pan off the heat and leave the chicken to rest in it for about 10 mins, so it will cut more easily.

PENNE WITH PUMPKIN, CRISPY PANCETTA, SAGE AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.
• Meanwhile, heat a heavy-based saucepan, add one tablespoon of the olive oil and then add the pancetta. Cook until the pancetta starts to change colour. Then add the remaining olive oil and the onions. Cook until the onion start to soften and the pancetta begins to crisp.
• Next add 1oz of the butter to the saucepan. Add the pumpkin and sage, then mix really well. Season with a little sea salt and plenty of freshly ground pepper. Cover and cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring now and then.
• Meanwhile, add the penne to the boiling water and cook according to the packet instructions, keeping the pasta al dente.
• Add the remaining butter and the parsley to the pumpkin and cook for a further 1-2 minutes. The pumpkin should be soft but not completely falling apart.
• Drain the pasta and add to the pumpkin. Stir in half of the Parmesan, then check the seasoning. Divide between four warmed pasta bowls. Finish each bowl with a sprinkling of Parmesan and eat straight away.

CRISPY SAGE & LEMON ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• The night before, put the chicken in a medium roasting tin. Rub the salt generously over the skin and into the cavity, then grind over some black pepper. Push one half of a lemon into the cavity, then tie the legs together with kitchen string. Cover and chill overnight.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Dab a little of the excess salt from the skin using kitchen paper.
• Mix the butter with the garlic and sage. Push the herby garlic butter under the skin using your hands and rub it over the flesh, making sure it's evenly spread out. Stuff the thyme and bay leaves into the cavity, then put the remaining lemon halves in the tin around the chicken. Roast for 1 hr, then baste the chicken with the buttery juices from the tin. Roast for a further 20-30 mins, or until cooked through. Check the chicken is cooked by inserting a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear.
• Transfer the chicken to a board, cover and leave to rest for 20 mins before carving. Slice and serve on a warmed platter.