Ricotta And Herb Stuffed Roast Chicken Food

RICOTTA-AND-HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Preheat oven to 400°F with racks in middle and lower third.
• Cook garlic in oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in ricotta, eggs, parmesan, herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Stuff and roast chickens:
• Cut out backbones from chickens with kitchen shears (freeze bones for making stock if desired). Pat chickens dry, then spread flat, skin sides up, on a cutting board. Cut a 1/2-inch slit on each side of chicken in center of triangle of skin between thigh and breast (near drumstick), then tuck knob of each drumstick thourough slit.
• Sprinkle each chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spread chickens flat, skin sides up, in an oiled large (17- by 12-inch) shallow baking pan. Gently slide your finger between skin and flesh of breast and legs of 1 chicken to loosen skin (be careful not to tear skin). Using a small spoon, slide 2/3 cup ricotta mixture under skin, using a finger on outside of skin to spread filling over meat of breast, thighs, and drumsticks. Tuck wing tips under. Stuff second chicken in same manner. Brush skin of chickens all over with oil (2 tablespoons) and sprinkle each with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Spoon remaining filling into an oiled 1-quart shallow baking dish (10 by 7 inches).
• Bake chickens in middle of oven 30 minutes, then put dish of stuffing in oven on lower rack. Continue baking until chicken is just cooked thourough and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of a thigh (through stuffing; do not touch bone) registers 170°F and until gratin is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes more. Let chickens stand 10 minutes, then cut each into quarters. Serve with gratin.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED STUFFED CHICKEN WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Measure the ricotta cheese into a small bowl. Add in parsley, sage, rosemary and garlic. Add in the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and stir well to blend.
• Butterfly each chicken breast and fill each with a fourth of the ricotta cheese mixture. Wrap each chicken breast in a slice of the proscuitto di Parma.
• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil to an ovenproof skillet. Warm over medium high heat. Add in prepared chicken breasts and brown, turning once for 4 to 6 minutes. Place the pan with the chicken in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove chicken from pan, deglaze the pan with chicken stock, add in lemon juice, butter and additional stock as needed to make a sauce. Spoon over chicken.
• This is delicious served with oven roasted asparagus and makes and elegant but simple meal.

RICOTTA STUFFED CHICKEN SLIDERS

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over low heat, add the olive oil and onions. Do not move until they start turning slightly brown in color, about 1 hour.
• In the meantime, grind the chicken in a food processor until the meat is chunky but uniform, using 10 short pulses. Scrape into a bowl and stir in the ricotta, Worcestershire, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and the parsley. Mix well. Form the chicken mixture into small patties, about 3 inches in diameter and 2 inches high. Place on a sheet tray and refrigerate.
• Once all the onions are caramelized, deglaze with the whiskey and add the sugar 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Let the onions caramelize for another 10 minutes, then set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is hot, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetable oil and, in batches, cook the sliders until a meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F in the center, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and hold warm on a sheet tray in the oven. Continue until all the sliders are cooked. Butter the rolls and toast in a saute pan over medium-high heat until golden brown.
• To assemble, place a chicken slider on the bottom roll, top with the onion marmalade and spread the 18,000 Island Dressing on the top roll. Garnish with a cornichon or pickle spear. Serve immediately.
• In a food processor, blend the egg yolks for 10 seconds until they are ribbony. Add the lemon juice and slowly add the oil in a steady, fine stream. When the mayonnaise is light in color and all the oil is incorporated, transfer to a bowl and add the hot sauce, capers and ketchup. Mix well.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH WALNUT-HERB STUFFING

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Put on a large plate and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 4 hours or overnight to dry out the skin.
• Pat the chicken dry and season the cavity with salt and pepper. Put the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan, tucking the wings underneath. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cook the butter, garlic and walnuts in a small skillet over low heat until the butter is melted and the nuts are lightly toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Brush the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the garlic butter; transfer the remaining butter mixture (including the garlic and nuts) to a large bowl. Add the parsley, thyme and bread and toss to coat. Fill the cavity of the chicken with about two-thirds of the stuffing. Tuck the remaining stuffing on the baking sheet underneath the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and roast until the stuffing is toasted, about 20 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken broth to the pan and roast 40 more minutes. Use a spoon to scoop the stuffing out of the chicken and transfer to the bottom of the roasting pan with the rest of the stuffing. Reduce the heat to 425 degrees F and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a platter and let rest 15 minutes. Transfer the stuffing to a bowl. Put the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 cups broth to the pan and cook, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, until almost syrupy, 5 to 8 minutes. Return the stuffing to the pan to soak up the juices. Serve with the chicken.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH PANCETTA & RICOTTA STUFFING BALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Season the chicken inside and out, then place in a large roasting dish. Rub all over with the oil. Place in oven, then cook for 1 hr 30 mins, spooning oil and juices over the bird a few times during cooking.
• Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Whizz the bread and parsley in a food processor or grate the bread on the biggest holes of a grater. Mix with the rest of the stuffing ingredients, apart from the pancetta or bacon, in a large bowl. Use your hands to shape into 12 balls, then wrap a slice of pancetta or bacon around each.
• Test if the chicken is done by inserting a skewer into the thigh meat; when the juices run clear, remove from the roasting dish. Place on a serving plate and loosely cover with foil. While the chicken is resting, pour away any excess fat from the dish and tip in the stuffing balls. Cook for 20 mins until crisp and golden. Serve alongside the chicken.

RICOTTA-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Gently loosen skin from chicken breasts; stuff cheese mixture under skin., Place on a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan; brush with oil. Bake at 375° for 35-45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170°.