Fresh Ricotta And Spinach Stuffed Chicken Food

FRESH RICOTTA AND SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add onion and sauté for a 3-4 minutes and then add garlic and sauté for another minute until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.
• Add spinach, turn often and cook until spinach is wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside to cool.
• Add ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper to a medium sized bowl. When spinach is cooled, add to bowl and mix well.
• Butterfly chicken by holding one hand on breasts and use a very sharp knife, starting at thickest part of the chicken and slowly slice the chicken through, until about 1/2 inch from the other end, being sure to keep the breast intact.
• Open butterflied chickens and season each side with salt and pepper. Spoon cheese and spinach mixture onto half of the butterflied breast. Gently fold other half of the chicken breast over the cheese mixture and gently press to close.
• Melt butter on low medium in the same saute pan used for spinach.
• Turn heat up to medium high and with tongs holding the chicken breasts together so the stuffing doesn't spill out, gently lift the stuffed chicken and place into hot pan. Sear on one side for 3 minutes, then gently flip with tongs to sear the other side.
• Place pan into the oven and finish cooking the chicken for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.
• While chicken finishes in the oven, in a medium sauce pan over medium low heat, add butter and flour for gravy. Whisk constantly to form a roux. Slowly add the stock, continuously whisking.
• Once all of the stock is added to the gravy, add salt and continue cooking to reduce the gravy to desired thickness.
• When chicken is finished cooking, remove from oven, plate and serve with hot gravy.
• Serve with your favorite mashed potatoes, stuffing, or veggies.

SPINACH RICOTTA-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
• Stuffing: In large skillet, heat butter over medium heat; cook onion and garlic stirring often, for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened.
• Add spinach, parsley and basil; cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until spinach wilts and moisture evaporates.
• Let cool completely.
• In bowl, mix spinach mixture, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, egg yolk, salt, nutmeg and pepper.
• Using sharp knife, bone chicken, leaving skin attached.
• Gently loosen skin from 1 long side of each breast, leaving skin attached at curved side.
• Stuff about 1/4 cup (50 mL) stuffing under skin, pressing to spread evenly.
• Tuck ends of skin and meat underneath.
• Place on greased rack in foil-lined pan.
• Brush with butter.
• Bake in oven, basting occasionally, for about 35 minutes or until golden and chicken is no longer pink inside.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH LEMONY WHITE WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the Stuffing: In a bowl, combine the spinach, ricotta, Gorgonzola, and bacon and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Add the egg, mix well, and set aside.
• Make the Sauce: Combine the wine and stock in a non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to a sauce-like consistency. Whisk in the mustard, lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
• Make the Chicken: Place each chicken breast between 2 doubled-up sheets of plastic wrap, and pound to an even 1/4-inch thickness with a meat-pounder or rolling pin. Divide the stuffing between the breasts, mounding it along the center of each. Fold the bottom edge of each breast over the stuffing, fold in the sides, and roll forward until completely wrapped, to form a tight rolled package. Secure each flap with a toothpick. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Cover the skillet, turn the heat down to low, and cook until just cooked through, about 5 minutes more.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour the sauce into the skillet over high heat and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon.
• Slice the chicken into medallions, divide among plates, and spoon some of the sauce over each. Garnish with parsley and erve immediately.

SPINACH-RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes; season with salt. (You should have about 4 heaping cups of sauce.)
• Make the stuffed shells: Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook as the label directs for baking, about 9 minutes. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Spread out on a baking sheet.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a large plate lined with a kitchen towel. Squeeze to remove any excess liquid, then finely chop.
• Put the spinach in a large bowl and add the ricotta, mozzarella, parsley, Parmesan, lemon zest, beaten egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir until combined.
• To assemble, spread about half of the sauce in the bottom of a 10-by-14-inch baking dish. Evenly fill the shells with the spinach-ricotta mixture using a spoon, or pipe it in using a pastry bag. Arrange the shells side by side, open-side up, in the baking dish on top of the sauce, then top with the remaining sauce.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake until heated through and the sauce is simmering around the edges, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until any shells or cheese poking through the sauce are lightly browned in spots, about 10 more minutes. Let sit 10 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes.

SPINACH, RICOTTA & CHICKEN TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the spinach in a large colander and pour over 1-2 kettles of boiling water to wilt. Allow to drain for a few mins, then squeeze out as much excess water as possible. Chop, put in a bowl and beat in the ricotta, lemon zest, nutmeg and plenty of seasoning.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast and use your fingers to make a little pocket. Spoon the mixture into the 4 breasts. Rub with 2 tsp of the oil and press the breadcrumbs on top, then arrange the chicken in a roasting tin.
• Put the vegetables on another tray and drizzle with the remaining oil, and season well. Bake the chicken and veg for around 30 mins, stirring the veg once. Remove when the chicken is cooked through and the breadcrumbs are golden.
• Remove the softened garlic from the vegetables and mash it with the lemon juice, then stir this with the roasted veg and serve with the chicken.