Truffled Stuffed Chicken Breast Food

BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl then add 2 tablespoons water. Cover the bowl (a large plate works best) then microwave for 2 minutes. Remove the broccoli to paper towels, drain very well and let cool slightly.
• Chop the broccoli into small, pea-sized pieces then return it to the bowl. Add the Cheddar, cream cheese, chives, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir until well combined.
• Arrange the chicken breasts on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, cut a deep pocket horizontally into each chicken breast without cutting all the way through to the other side.
• Divide the broccoli mixture among the chicken breasts, pressing it firmly into each pocket.
• Season the outsides of the chicken breasts on both sides with garlic powder, salt, pepper and any other preferred spices.
• Divide the olive oil among two ovenproof skillets set over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add 2 of the chicken breasts to each skillet. Cook the chicken until seared on one side, about 3 minutes, then flip it once and cook until seared on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the skillets to the oven and continue cooking the chicken breasts until the thickest part of each breast reaches 165 degrees F, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the chicken breasts from the oven and serve.

CHEESE, SPINACH & MUSHROOM STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Boil the kettle, tip the mushrooms into a small bowl, pour over boiling water to just cover, then leave to soak for 15 mins. Drain and squeeze out the mushrooms (save and freeze the liquid to make a base for a gravy) and roughly chop.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently cook the shallots and garlic for 3 mins. Turn up the heat, throw in the mushrooms and cook for a few mins more. Add the spinach, turn the heat up to high and cook until wilted and all the liquid has evaporated. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool. Beat in the cheeses and season with loads of pepper and a little salt. Set aside.
• Take the chicken breasts and remove the small fillet from the back. Cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast then stuff each one with a quarter of the spinach mixture, closing it with the cut-off fillet. Carefully wrap each stuffed chicken breast in a slice of prosciutto and chill until needed. Can be prepared up to a day ahead.
• To cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line up the chicken on a baking tray and roast for 20-25 mins until the prosciutto is frazzled at the edges, the cheese is oozing out and the chicken is cooked through.

STUFFED BREAST OF CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• To make the filling: In a medium skillet heat the oil over high heat and saute the spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Drain the spinach squeeze dry and finely chop. Combine the ricotta, chopped spinach, Asiago, and nutmeg. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• To make the chicken: Place the chicken breasts skin side down on a cutting board with the tenderloin folded back. Place 2 tablespoons of spinach filling on the center of the breast and fold the tenderloin over to enclose. Arrange the stuffed chicken breasts, skin side up, in a baking dish.
• Mix the butter with the garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub the butter mixture over the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, until the butter hardens. Roast for 25 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes, at room temperature, before serving. Slice chicken breasts and serve with pan juices.

PECAN-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Lay out a 15-inch-long piece of plastic wrap on a cutting board and drizzle it with a little olive oil. Lay a butterflied chicken breast, cut side up, on the plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap over to cover. Using a meat pounder, pound out the thicker parts of the breast so that it's uniformly thick. Fold the plastic wrap open and brush the chicken breast with the molasses; season with generous pinches of fennel, salt and pepper. (This will be the inside part of the breast that gets stuffed.) Fold the plastic wrap back over and flip the breast over. Fold plastic wrap open and season the other side of the breast with salt and pepper. (This is the outside that will later get seared in the pan.) Re-cover with the plastic wrap and place on a plate. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken breasts. Refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and pecans, and cook another 2 minutes. Add the tarragon and cook another minute. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Remove a butterflied breast from the plastic wrap. Place it on a cutting board, molasses-side up. Place 1/4 cup of the filling on half of the chicken breast. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling. Using a bamboo skewer, close up the opening by threading the skewer through one end of the opening to the other to secure. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts and filling.
• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stuffed chicken breasts and cook for about 3 minutes per side, until nicely browned. Add the wine, chicken broth and crushed tomatoes. Turn down the heat to low, cover, and poach until the chicken is cooked through, another 8 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate, remove the skewers, cover the chicken with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. While chicken is resting, turn up the heat on the poaching liquid to medium, add the crushed red pepper, and let simmer until thickened and reduced by a third, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Strain the sauce into a small pot and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
• To serve: Slice the chicken, if desired, and arrange on a serving platter. Pour some sauce over the top. Serve immediately, with extra sauce on the side.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Flatten chicken between plastic, to 1/4 inch thick.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese with spinach, roasted red pepper, garlic, parmesan, nutmeg, salt and pepper until combined.
• Spoon equal amount of mixture across narrow end of each breast.
• Roll jelly roll style tucking in the ends.
• Dip in flour, next the beaten egg; roll in breadcrumbs.
• In baking dish arrange chicken seam side down in one layer.
• At this point refrigerate a few hours so your breading will adhere to the rolls.
• When ready to cook; remove from refrigerator.
• Drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.
• *****After 30 minutes lower oven to 350*.
• I told you these were versatile.
• Go for brie cheese, chopped mushrooms, ham,.
• pine nuts, pistachios, crab meat etc.Try whatever you fancy.It will be a hit!

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mince celery and onion and add to stuffing mix. Add melted margarine and chicken broth and mix well. Rinse and trim chicken and lay flat with cut side up; salt and pepper to taste. Spread stuffing mixture evenly on chicken. Fold up and secure with metal skewers. Season outside with additional salt and pepper if desired.
• Place in baking pan and cook for 40-45 minutes until chicken is done and stuffing is slightly browned.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Cover each breast with plastic wrap and pound to approximately a 6mm (1/4”) thickness, taking care not to make any holes.
• Lay meat out, and just inside one edge lay a piece of mozzarella, black pepper to taste, 3 or 4 of the s/d tomatoes, 2 spinach leaves and 2-3 basil leaves (depending on size).
• Fold breast over, and secure with toothpicks or skewers (I used 4 toothpicks per breast) Grind rice crackers using a food processor, rolling pin or mortar and pestle until they are the consistency of “normal” breadcrumbs.
• Mix garlic powder, parsely and freshly ground black pepper into rice cracker crumbs.
• Dip the stuffed breasts into beaten egg and coat well with crumbs.
• Bake in a 200c oven for the first 20mins, then turn down to 180c for another 10 mins or until chicken is cooked through.