Tarragon Chicken Wrapped With Bacon Food

TARRAGON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the garlic oil in a frying pan or Dutch oven that has a lid and in which the chicken breasts will fit pretty snugly. Add the scallions, stir, then sprinkle in the freeze-dried tarragon, stir again and cook them in the garlic oil for a minute, stirring some more as they cook.
• Put the chicken fillets into the pan, curved side down, and cook for 5 minutes, watching the scallions don't burn. If they look like they're beginning to, scrape them from the pan and let them sit on the chicken pieces.
• Turn over the breasts, and add the vermouth (or white wine). Let the vermouth bubble up, then add the salt. Put the lid on, turn the heat down low and leave it to simmer gently for 10 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked through by making a small cut into the thickest part and ensuring the juices run clear - if not, simmer for a few minutes longer and check again.
• Remove the chicken breasts to warmed plates. Bring the remaining liquid to a boil, add the cream and stir well, then sprinkle in the fresh tarragon, stir again and give a good grind of white pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts, and give a final scattering of tarragon to serve.

TARRAGON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat.
• Take the chicken breasts and sprinkle the salt and pepper over both sides.
• Add the chicken breasts to the pan, and cook for about 3 minutes one side, until sealed and golden.
• Turn the chicken over and move them to one side of the pan.
• Add the onions and garlic, and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring the onions often, until the onions are soft.
• Add in the white wine, and allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the wine has nearly all evaporated.
• Add the chicken stock and dried or fresh tarragon, then pour in the cream.
• Stir together and bring to the boil.
• Simmer gently for 6-8 minutes, until the sauce has thickened, and the chicken is completely cooked through.
• Serve the chicken and sauce sprinkled with a little more fresh tarragon and black pepper.

TARRAGON CHICKEN WRAPPED WITH BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°.
• Season chicken with salt, pepper and tarragon.
• Wrap a slice of bacon around each piece of chicken and place in one layer in baking dish.
• Cook for 15 minutes at 425° then reduce heat to 375°.
• Continue cooking until juices run clear when you pierce chicken with a fork (about 35 minutes). Variations: For a change of pace, try other herbs such as sage, rosemary or thyme.

BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream cheese, chives and Worcestershire sauce and stir until evenly combined. Season the filling with salt and pepper.
• Halve each chicken breast horizontally, leaving it attached at one side so it opens like a book. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, then divide the filling among the breasts, spreading it evenly on the inside of each. Close the chicken breasts and sprinkle the outsides lightly with salt and pepper.
• Lay 3 strips of bacon side-by-side on a cutting board and position a chicken breast right-side-up at the end of the strips. Tuck the thinner "tail" of the chicken breast underneath for even cooking, then roll the breast up in the bacon. Repeat with the remaining bacon strips and chicken breasts.
• Set a cooling rack in a rimmed baking sheet and transfer the chicken breasts with the bacon seam-side down to the rack. Bake until the chicken is almost cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of each breast reads 155 degrees F, about 35 minutes. Heat the broiler and broil the breasts until the bacon turns golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Serve hot.

TARRAGON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Butterfly chicken by placing it breast-side down and, using kitchen shears, cutting along both sides of backbone and through small rib bones. Discard backbone, and place chicken in a large plastic bag with zipper. Add 1/2 cup tarragon, the lemon juice and zest, and olive oil. Expel as much air as possible from bag, and make sure marinade coats chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken in a roasting pan, spread flat, breast side up. Roast until skin is crisp and golden, 35 to 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle with salt to taste, and cut into 8 serving pieces. Transfer to a platter, and garnish with remaining tarragon. Serve, if desired, with salad and roasted potatoes.

CHOPPED TARRAGON, BACON & CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat until very hot. Add the bacon and cook until golden and crisp. Remove and drain on kitchen paper until it's crisp enough to crumble easily.
• To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients with a pinch of sea salt in a bowl. Blanch the peas in boiling salted water for 30 secs. Drain, running under cold water for a few mins, and set aside.
• Put the avocado, chicken, celery slices and leaves, tarragon, spring onions, peas, and bacon in a large bowl. Pour over the dressing and gently toss to combine.

BACON WRAPPED BOURSIN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS - A DEUX!

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
• Lightly oil an oven proof dish with the teaspoon of olive oil - using a pastry brush is best.
• Place one chicken breast between a large piece of cling film and gently beat it with a cook's mallet - beating until large and fairly thin - try NOT make any holes in the chicken! Repeat with the second chicken breast.
• Place the chicken breasts on a work board and spread half the Boursin cheese on each chicken piece - make sure it is spread evenly right up to the edges.
• Roll the chicken breasts up - tucking the last small "fillet" flap up and into the stuffed roll.
• Wrap the bacon pieces or pancetta ham around the stuffed chicken, making sure they do not overlap too much and the edges are sealed underneath.
• Gently lift them into the oiled oven dish.
• Season well with freshly ground black pepper. (Season with salt to taste - the bacon will make it quite salty, so watch out when seasoning with salt.).
• If using the lemon juice, pour over the top of the chicken breasts now.
• Scatter or arrange the cherry tomatoes around the chicken pieces. (I like to keep them on the vine.).
• Place in the middle of a pre-heated oven and roast for between 45 - 55 minutes; the cooking time depends on the size of the chicken breasts and your oven.
• Remove from the oven and place the chicken breasts on a plate - you can serve them whole or sliced. Garnish with watercress, as well as the roasted cherry tomatoes.
• Serve with a selection of seasonal fresh vegetables and a jacket potato, making sure you spoon the excess Boursin sauce over the top of the chicken pieces and the roasted cherry tomatoes!
• Tip:You can make an optional creamy sauce. On taking the chicken out of the oven, add the creme fraiche and white wine to the Boursin cooking juices in the oven dish, whisk together and then gently heat, whisking all the time, over medium heat on top of the stove, or decant the creme fraiche, wine and juices to a small saucepan and heat the sauce in the pan. (Make sure to keep the chicken warm whilst you do this.).
• TO FREEZE:.
• As soon as you have stuffed and wrapped the bacon around the beaten chicken breasts, wrap individually in cling film and put into a freezer container or a freezer bag. Take them out as required and allow to defrost for 4-5 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
• Cook as above.
• Can be frozen for up to 3 months with no adverse effects on the Boursin cheese.

BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Skin 2 chicken breasts, then cut a pocket in each side and stuff each with 25g/1oz soft goat's cheese.
• Wrap each breast in 2 rashers rindless streaky bacon, tucking in a few fresh sage leaves, then put the breasts in a baking dish and season. Spoon over 1 tbsp olive oil.
• Roast the chicken breasts in a baking dish, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes in a preheated oven (190C/gas 5/fan oven 170C). To check if they are done, insert a sharp knife into the centre of a parcel and leave it for a few seconds, if the chicken is cooked the tip should feel very hot when you pull it out and touch it. The chicken should also feel very firm when pressed with the back of a fork.
• Serve with a gratin of potatoes and leeks.