Spinach Prosciutto Spirals Food

CHICKEN ROULADE STUFFED WITH PROSCIUTTO, SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES WITH WHITE TRUFFLE POTATOES

Steps:

• Lay a long piece of plastic wrap over your cutting board and tuck it underneath the sides of the board. (Covering the chicken with the plastic will also keep the mess down when you pound with the meat mallet.) The chicken breasts should be placed on the covered cutting board, skin side down, with enough space between them so they can lay flat after you "butterfly" them. To make the butterfly cut, carefully slice open (without slicing the chicken all the way through) and spread the flesh of the chicken out so you will be able to pound it out into a single thin piece on which you will place stuffing and then roll up. Season the breasts with salt and pepper. Then put another length of plastic wrap over the seasoned chicken breasts and flatten with meat mallet to integrate the seasoning into the chicken. Pound chicken thin.
• Lay 1 slice of prosciutto ham on each breast. Add 3 leaves of spinach and 4 pieces of sun-dried tomatoes on each breast. Fold in each end and roll tightly. Place on sheet tray and freeze until firm. (It does not have to be frozen completely hard, but this makes it easier to handle when breading.)
• Preheat a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• While the chicken roulade is hardening in the freezer, prepare the tomato demi-glace. In a saucepan, saute garlic and then deglaze the pan with the wine. Add stock and tomato puree. Boil over medium heat until reduced by half. Add the demi-glace (brown sauce) and let simmer until thickened ("medium thickness").
• When the chicken is firm, set up a breading station. Whisk together 3 eggs and 1 cup of the half-and-half for the egg wash. (Begin with this amount and whisk more together if needed.) Then set up a bowl each of: flour, then egg wash, and then Italian bread crumbs. Evenly coat rolled frozen chicken with flour (not too much or bread crumbs won't stick). Dip floured rolled chicken into egg wash, then into bread crumbs. In a deep-fat fryer, lightly fry until golden brown. Finish in the oven for 15 minutes until completely cooked through. Remove from oven and let rest.
• Boil the potatoes until tender. Then mash the potatoes and whip chopped chives, butter, salt and freshly ground pepper into the potatoes with a beater.
• Re-heat the tomato demi-glace and to finish remove from heat, and immediately whisk in fresh thyme and 1 tablespoon butter.
• Slice each chicken roll to expose the stuffed interior. Place mashed potatoes in center of each plate, drizzle white truffle oil over the potatoes. Lay chicken roulade over potatoes.

GREEN SPINACH & LEMON RISOTTO WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Blanch the spinach and parsley in the stock for 30 seconds until wilted and bright green, then remove with a slotted spoon and leave to cool for a moment. Turn the stock down to a low heat. Squeeze out any excess water from the spinach and parsley, then tip into a food processor or mini chopper. Add 2 tbsp of the olive oil and 1 tbsp water, then blitz to a fine purée and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying pan or skillet and fry the prosciutto until crisp. Transfer the prosciutto to a plate covered with kitchen paper and set aside. Put half the butter, the thyme leaves, leek and garlic in the frying pan and season. Scrape up any crisp bits left over from the prosciutto and fry gently for a few mins over a medium heat until the leek is softened and aromatic but not browning. Add the rice, stirring to coat in the garlic mix, and cook for 2 mins until turning translucent, then pour in the wine and cook for another 2 mins until evaporated. Add one ladleful of the warm stock and cook until absorbed, stirring continuously.
• Continue this process one ladleful at a time for 20-30 mins, stirring constantly, until the rice is creamy but still retaining a little bite and without a chalky core. Remove the pan from the heat and stir through the remaining butter, the parmesan, most of the lemon zest, the lemon juice and cream (if using). Stir through the spinach purée, then season well with a little freshly grated nutmeg. Divide between two plates, top with the crisp prosciutto and sprinkle over a little more parmesan and lemon zest.

SPINACH-PROSCIUTTO RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Combine the prosciutto, spinach, ricotta, egg yolk, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Mix the cornstarch with a couple of tablespoons of cold water in a small dish.
• Place six or so wonton skins on work surface. Keep remaining skins covered. Place a gently rounded teaspoonful of the filling in the center of the skin.
• Dip your finger in the cornstarch mix (stir it up, as it will settle) and wet two edges of the skin. Fold over the other two edges to form a triangle. Try to keep the filling centered, as if it spreads to the edges, you won't be able to get a good seal.
• Continue until all skins are used up. Depending on the exact size of your wonton skins, you may end up with more or fewer ravioli.
• Heat a large pan of salted water to boiling. Reduce the heat so that the water is simmering and not at a full boil. Drop the ravioli in one by one. They will take no more than two or three minutes to cook. Don't crowd the pan, cook in batches. Remove with strainer and drain well.
• Serve with your favorite pasta sauce. I like to use recipe #64635. I would not use a typical marinara. Garnish with parmesan cheese, if desired.
• Note1: Delis often sell prosciutto ends for a fraction of what sliced prosciutto costs. That's what I buy to make this and other dishes calling for chopped prosciutto.
• Note2: These freeze very well. Freeze in a single layer and then package in appropriate container. Do not thaw; they will take app. 3 to 4 minutes to cook.
• Note3: These can also be used for a first course, three or four per serving.

PROSCIUTTO AND SPINACH PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the pepper in a roasting pan and roast in the oven, checking every 15 minutes, and turning with tongs until the skin is fully wrinkled and charred black. When the peppers is done, use tongs to put it into a ziptop bag which (for safety reasons) you have resting on a plate - (Remember, it is volcanically hot!). Carefully zip the bag shut, and allow the pepper to sweat for 5 minutes. Use oven mitts to prevent getting burned while you handle the bag in the next step of sliding the pepper from the bag into a bowl filled with a couple of inches of ice water. You can then use your fingers to work quickly to slip off and discard the skin of the pepper while it is in the water. You will be left with a beautifully cooked red pepper with a wonderful color. Cut open the pepper and remove seeds. Slice it into strips and set aside.
• Roll out each puff pastry sheet and on the surface of each of the 2 sheets evenly arrange 4 slices of prosciutto ham, 6 spinach leaves, half of the red pepper strips, 1/8-cup Cheddar, and 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Roll up the dough "jelly roll" style into a log (so the cross-section of the roll will be a spiral design, the "pinwheel"). Place the logs in the freezer for 50 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove "pinwheel" logs and from freezer and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices and place on a baking sheet. Brush with egg wash. Bake until golden brown, approximately 15 minutes.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH PROSCIUTTO, SPINACH AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Butterfly each chicken breasts and lay open like a book. (See how to butterfly chicken breasts for more details and step-by-step photos.)
• Sprinkle the inside of each chicken breasts with the salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Lay a piece of prosciutto on one side of each chicken breast. Top with 2 tablespoons chopped spinach and 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese each.
• Fold chicken breasts to close them up and lay on parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Drizzle the tops of the chicken breasts with olive oil then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon paprika each and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese each.
• Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes, until chicken breasts are cooked through.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

SPINACH AND PROSCIUTTO ROLLS

Steps:

• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain and pat dry.
• Combine 2 1/2 cups Fontina cheese, egg, spinach, ricotta and parmesan in a small bowl.
• Spread each lasagna noodle with cheese mixture, lay on one slice of prosciutto lenghtwise along each noodle.
• Roll up each noodle and place seam side down in a baking dish.
• Drizzle each roll with melted butter.
• Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
• Sprinkle with reserved Fontina cheese and return to oven, uncovered, for about 1 minute or until cheese is melted.

COLORFUL SPINACH AND PROSCIUTTO SIDE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the spinach, prosciutto, red peppers and artichoke hearts. Season with garlic powder. Cook and stir for 15 minutes, until heated through.