Pesto Cheesy Chicken Rolls Food

PESTO CHEESY CHICKEN ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the pesto sauce onto each flattened chicken breast. Place one slice of cheese over the pesto. Roll up tightly, and secure with toothpicks. Place in a lightly greased baking dish.
• Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until chicken is nicely browned and juices run clear.

PESTO LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles 1 minute longer than the package directions for al dente. The pasta should be tender enough that it will roll without cracking. Drain well and rinse with cold water. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and is the consistency of a thin gravy, 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the bechamel sauce to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg in a large bowl and then stir in the ricotta, spinach, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the pesto, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir the remaining 1/2 cup pesto into the slightly cooled bechamel sauce.
• Brush a 13- by 9- inch baking dish with oil. Spread 1/4 cup of the pesto-bechamel sauce on to the bottom of the dish.
• Lay half of the cooked lasagna noodles on a clean work surface and spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture evenly over each. Starting with a short end, roll each noodle up. As you make the rolls, transfer them to the prepared baking dish seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon the remaining pesto-bechamel sauce over the lasagna rolls and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the rolls are heated through and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is browned on top, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, if using, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

PESTO STUFFED CHICKEN ROLLS

Steps:

• To make pesto: Process basil, pine nuts, garlic and a few tablespoons of olive oil in the container of a food processor fitted with a knife blade.
• With processor running, pour salt, pepper and remaining oil through the food chute until a thin paste forms.
• Add parmesan cheese, if using, pulsing until blended.
• To make chicken rolls: Combine margarine/butter, pesto and bell pepper, stirring until smooth.
• Sprinkle each flattened chicken breast with salt and pepper. Spread 2 tablespoons of pesto mixture across each breast, roll up lengthwise and secure with a toothpick.
• Combine cornflake crumbs and paprika in a shallow bowl.
• Dredge chicken rolls in the crumb mixture and place in a baking dish coated with Pam.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350, remove chicken from refrigerator and bring to room temperature.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Remove toothpicks and slice into 1/2 inch pieces. Serve warm.

CHEESY CHICKEN ROULADES WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place one chicken breast between 2 pieces of parchment paper or wax paper and pound it with a meat tenderizer (or the bottom of a heavy skillet) until it is 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
• Combine the basil, Parmesan, garlic and pine nuts in a blender. Pulse for 15 seconds, then with the blender running, stream in the oil. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed and continue blending until the pesto is pureed. Taste and season the pesto with salt and pepper.
• Spread one-fourth of the pesto on one side of each of the chicken breasts, then top the pesto with 3 slices of mozzarella per chicken breast. Beginning at the shorter end, tightly roll up each chicken breast and secure it with a toothpick. Sprinkle the outsides of the roulades with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat and add 2 to 3 tablespoons oil. Once the oil is hot, add the roulades and sear them on all sides until they're browned, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the roulades until they are cooked throughout and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the roulades from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes. Remove the toothpicks, then slice and serve.