Spontaneous Chicken Breasts



This was a happy and delicious accident, created out of desperation and what I had in the fridge.

You know how boneless chicken breasts bore me.
I was at the point where I couldn't look at another one after dieting for 8 weeks.

I looked in the fridge and decided to just stuff them with anything and everything that I had.

I always have some kind of roasted tomato or pepper on hand. I always stock fresh mozzarella cheese and some kind of ham and there were plenty of herbs in the garden right now to make at least 2 dinners!

So I guess you could say this was a spontaneous meal, and boy was it good!

Chicken Breasts Stuffed w/ Fresh Mozzarella & Roasted Tomatoes:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (thinly sliced are best)
4 oven roasted or sundried tomatoes
4 slices of sliced fresh mozzarella (from a wet ball of cheese)
4 slices of fresh basil
4 swipes of basil pesto
4 slices of prosciutto
2 garlic cloves roughly chopped
1/4 cup of chicken broth
salt and pepper

Flatten out your chicken breasts. Some people pound them, but I like to spread them out by the membranes with my hands (Martha Stewart showed me this on her show).

Spread a small amount of pesto on each breast. Now lay a slice of prosciutto over the pesto. Top with a slice of fresh mozzarella, a roasted tomato slice, then top with a basil leaf.



Roll the chicken breasts tightly and secure each bundle with 2 toothpicks. This is the tricky part. It was a bit of a pain getting the toothpicks to hold them down, but be persistent! You are the stronger one!

Sprinkle the chicken bundles with salt and pepper.
Saute your garlic cloves in olive oil on medium heat for a minute, now add your chicken bundles to the pan.



Starting seam side down, brown your chicken on all sides for about 8 minutes.
turning them once in a while to make sure all sides are browning.



Transfer to a roasting pan and pour in 1/4 cup of chicken stock.
Bake bundles for 20 minutes (if using thin sliced breasts) at 350 degrees.



Let sit on counter 5 minutes before slicing into roulades.
DON'T FORGET TO REMOVE THE TOOTHPICKS!!!!

Pour pan sauce over and serve.



Comments

kat said…
I bet that was really tasty. Way to save some boring chicken!
beautiful pollo a la caprese...
Ciao Chow Linda said…
It's nice when you combine what you've got into a delicious dish - but you've got to have the ability to know what to do with those ingredients - which you clearly do.
First of all how the heck can you diet for 8 weeks with all this good food you make here??? Secondly, I love everything about this dish!
Pam said…
See how talented you are? Throwing together a bunch of ingredients to make a fancy and beautiful chicken dish. Nicely done.
StaceyEsq said…
Lovely! I once encountered something "spontaneous" in one of your previous recipes when one of your pan-sauteed pork chop dishes unintentionally and "spontaneously" went up in flames on my stove. (My fault; not yours - and the pork chop still was fabulous.) I can't wait to try this one!
Foodiewife said…
Stacey does it again. Sometimes "Iron Chef" meals work out for the best. It looks like we keep similar staples on hand. I can see myself making this for one of my fast dinner nights. Great job!
Memória said…
Is this another recipe I will have to try from you? hahaha This looks yummy!! Yeah for spontaneity!
Karen said…
They look yummy and they sliced up nicely too. When I make stuffed chicken breasts all the cheese runs out. :(
Dewi said…
Awww, this is the ultimate chicken breast. With all of those luxe ingredients, I shall say no more...

Myammmmm,
elra
LaDue & Crew said…
I could totally see you telling the chicken who is boss, lol! Great dish, Stace. Can't wait to try!
Rachel said…
I can't wait to try these!
Bob said…
Those look lovely and I bet they tasted even better. I haven't made stuffed chicken in years...
Marta said…
Looks like your desperation paid off! This looks well plot-out and perfect, not at all like the result of spontaneous assembly! Great job!
I just found you through Linda's blog... I'm a figaholic as well. It painful, really, that you cannot find fresh ones in Canada EVER! but doesn't matter, dried ones have their charm too :)
Patsyk said…
I love when something comes together from whatever you have hanging out in the fridge! They look delicious!
The Food Hunter said…
that looks and sounds delicious.
Debbie said…
Those chicken breasts look so good. Looks like they are from a fancy restaurant. Great recipe!
Melissa said…
Spontaneity rules!

I had roulades last year but your idea for filling is much healthier. Besides, after eating chicken with basil, tomato, mozz on a sandwich last year and eating my Caprese pasta all the time I'm thinking this dish would make me reeeeally happy. Thanks for this idea!
Excellent improvisation. You have many of my favorite ingredients in there. Goes to show you that chicken breasts don't have to be boring.
noble pig said…
Yes, we are the stronger ones! Beautiful!
Why, why can't I have that kind of spontaneity?! Ack! I aspire to this, but somehow can't ever remember to stock my kitchen with the necessary elements. Sigh. Your pictures are making me drool, and I haven't even had breakfast yet.
Randi Lynne said…
Dieting? I am making myself diet after my trip to NY. I ate a lot! I would be so huge if I cooked as well as you, even with the exercising that I do!! This chicken looks really yummy though. I can't wait to try it.
Randi Lynne said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peter M said…
Sometimes the quick on your feet dishes like this turn out the best!