Zucchini Blossom And Chicken Saltimbocca Food

SALTIMBOCCA OF ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Cut each zucchini lengthwise into thin even 1/4-inch thick slices. (This is most easily done on a mandolin.) You will need 16 slices total. Lay them out in pairs on paper towels or a clean tea towel and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the prosciutto slices on half the zucchini slices so none hangs over the edges. Place 2 sage leaves on top. Place the cheese slices on top, taking the same precautions you did with the prosciutto. Finally, lay the remaining zucchini slices on top of each stack. Cover with paper towels or another clean tea towel, and press down firmly to extract moisture and firm the zucchini.
• Pour the eggs into a deep plate. Season the flour with salt and pepper and put it on another plate. Pick up each zucchini stack by both ends and hold it securely closed as you dip it first in the egg and then dredge in the flour until evenly coated.
• In a skillet large enough to hold at least 3 zucchini stacks at a time, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook the zucchini, turning once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and keep warm until all are cooked. Add more oil by tablespoonfuls, if needed.
• Add the remaining sage leaves to the hot pan and cook briefly until crisp. Arrange several crisped leaves on top of each saltimbocca. Serve with a sprinkling of parsley, a light dusting of Parmesan, and lemon wedges.

CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA

Steps:

• Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken to flatten a bit. Salt and pepper each piece on both sides and place on a platter. Sprinkle with chopped sage, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using) and olive oil. Massage in the seasoning to distribute, cover and marinate at room temperature for one hour, or refrigerate for up to several hours.
• Heat a wide skillet over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil looks wavy, add the sage leaves and let them crisp for about 30 seconds. Remove and drain.
• Brown the chicken breasts in the oil for about 2 minutes per side, then transfer to a baking dish large enough to fit them in one layer.
• Top each piece with 2 sage leaves, a slice of prosciutto and a slice of fontina. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling. Garnish with remaining sage leaves.

FIERI'D CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA

Steps:

• Begin by turning the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves with stems and let simmer until the sage has crisped and the oil has infused with the sage flavoring, about 2 minutes. Remove the sage and reserve the oil in the skillet.
• If you have thick chicken breasts, butterfly them in half. Place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and, using the flat side of a meat tenderizer, pound out until an even 1/2-inch-thick. Remove from the plastic and sprinkle each chicken breast with the salt and pepper on both sides. Then dredge in the flour and dust off the excess.
• Add the canola oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat with the sage infused olive oil. Working in batches, add the chicken breasts to the skillet, searing on both sides. After 2 to 3 minutes, turn the chicken breasts and brown the other side for 2 minutes. Chop the sage that was crisping with the olive oil and sprinkle on the chicken breasts. Place a single slice of prosciutto on top of each chicken breast and press it down firmly so it sticks. Then add the provolone slices on top. Place in the oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Deglaze the pan with the white wine and cook over high heat until reduced slightly. Add the chicken broth and simmer until reduced by half. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cold butter cubes. Swirl until the butter has melted completely and the sauce has a sheen to it. Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish with the parsley.

CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Slice the potatoes lengthways to about the thickness of a £1 coin and tip into a large roasting tin. Add half the oil and the garlic cloves (unpeeled), then season and toss to coat. Spread to an even layer, then scatter with the olives and pour over the marsala along with 100ml water.
• Tear the prosciutto strips in half. Open up the chicken thighs and season. Put a sage leaf on top of each piece, then wrap loosely with a strip of prosciutto. Lay the wrapped chicken on top of the potatoes, then cook in the oven for 35 mins.
• Trim away the stem ends of the green beans, toss in the remaining oil and seasoning, then place in little bundles around the chicken, along with a few more sage leaves. Return the tin to the oven for 15-20 mins until the beans are tender, and the potatoes and chicken are cooked through and crisping at the edges.

CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA WITH BASIL MASH

Steps:

• Make the mash: boil the potatoes in salted water for 15-20 mins until tender. Drain and mash well. Stir in the milk, then the Parmesan and basil. Season with black pepper and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, sit the chicken breasts on a board and cut through them horizontally leaving one side attached. Open them up like a book and lay a basil leaf on top of each, topped with a slice of prosciutto. Secure with a cocktail stick.
• Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan and add the chicken breasts, hamside down. Cook for 2-3 mins until golden, then turn over and cook for 2 mins more. Pour over the Marsala and allow to bubble for 1 min. Add the stock and simmer for 5 mins until the chicken is cooked. Lift the chicken out, cover to keep warm, then boil the pan juices to reduce a little. Serve with the basil mash and a green salad on the side, if you like.