Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Food

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• 1. Using a sharp knife, cut a pocket in each chicken breast by cutting horizontally through the thickest portion to, but not through, the opposite side. Set aside.
• 2. In a small bowl, combine feta, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, green onion, and oregano. Spoon evenly into pockets in chicken breasts. If necessary, secure openings with wooden toothpicks. Sprinkle chicken with black pepper.
• 3. Coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Preheat skillet over medium heat. Add chicken. Cook for 12 to 14 minutes or until no longer pink (170 degrees F), turning once.

GREEK CREAM CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Cut each chicken breast from one side through the middle horizontally to within one-half inch of the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book.
• Mix cream cheese, feta cheese, tomato, olives, onion, and spinach together in a large bowl. Spoon cheese mixture onto 1 side of each opened chicken breast. Fold each chicken breast closed and place on a piece of aluminum foil.
• Cook the chicken breasts on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, mix cheese and tomatoes. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/4-in. thickness. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with Greek seasoning. Top with cheese mixture. Roll up chicken from a short side; secure with a toothpick., Place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish, seam side down; brush with remaining oil. Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until until a thermometer reads 165°. Discard toothpicks before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED BONELESS CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Put oil, curry, oregano, pepper, cayenne pepper, and minced garlic into a small mixing bowl and stir with a fork.
• Pour oil and spice mixture into glass or ceramic baking dish and coat the whole bottom of pan with oil/spice mixture.
• Wash the chicken thighs under cold water and roll them out flat.
• Drag both sides of each thigh through the oil/spice mixture in baking dish and lay them flat and orderly in baking dish.
• Lightly brown the pine nuts in a non-stick frying pan for 1 minute, then mince.
• Put minced pine nuts, minced spinach, crumbled feta cheese, minced black olives, minced mushrooms into a bowl and toss them together. This is your stuffing.
• Place generous amount of stuffing on each flattened thigh.
• Roll the thighs around the stuffing to enclose it.
• Preheat oven to 375 (oven temperatures vary) and bake for 30 -40 minutes or until chicken is white throughout when sliced.
• Serve with rice and a vegetable or salad.

MEDITERRANEAN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves on foil-lined baking sheet, skin side up. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Place in air-tight container for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, finely chop the 2 bell pepper halves.
• Mix together chopped bell pepper, garlic, cheese, olives, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
• Cut a horizontal slit in thickest portions of each chicken breast to form a pocket (but do not cut all the way through). Spoon the pepper/feta/olive mixture into each pocket. Close the opening with a toothpick. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, and sprinkle the top side with dried basil.
• Place chicken on broiler rack, and broil 6-8 minutes each side, or until done (it may take additional time, depending on thickness of the chicken breasts). Remove from oven, loosely wrap with foil and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, combine the egg and heavy cream and beat together well. In a separate medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, cheese, basil, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
• Rinse chicken and pat dry. Dip each piece into the egg wash and then dredge liberally in the cracker crumb mixture. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Fry the chicken in the oil for 5 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown and crusty. Place chicken in a 9x13 baking dish and cover with foil.
• Bake, covered, at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 more minutes, or until chicken juices run clear.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine first 6 ingredients. Add 1 Tbsp. thyme; mix well. Use small sharp knife to cut pocket in thick long side of each chicken breast, being careful to not cut through to opposite side. Fill pockets with cream cheese mixture.
• Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 to 4 min. on each side or until browned on both sides. Transfer to 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover. Reserve drippings in skillet.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF). Meanwhile, add wine and broth to drippings in skillet; cook on medium heat 10 min. or until liquid is reduced by half, stirring frequently to scrape up browned bits from bottom of skillet. Stir in remaining thyme.
• Slice chicken. Serve topped with sauce.