Braised Chicken Breast With Smoky Provola Recipes

HOW TO BRAISE CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Coat bottom of heavy large skillet (preferably cast iron) with olive oil and heat over high heat.
• Place chicken breasts in a single layer in hot skillet and cook for 1 minute or until lightly browned. Turn over and cook 1 minute.
• Add liquid and herb(s). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion reads 160 to 165 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from pan and set aside to cool.

BRAISED CHICKEN BREAST WITH SMOKY PROVOLA

Steps:

• Slice open the chicken breasts crosswise to butterfly, so they open to a flattened, even thickness. Season the chicken all over with salt. Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off the excess.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the chicken to the pan, and brown each side for about 2 minutes.
• Once it is browned, top each breast with a basil leaf and a slice of prosciutto. Increase the heat to medium-high. Push aside the chicken to make a dry clear spot in the center of the pan, and pour in the Marsala and white wine. Drop in the remaining basil leaves. Bring to a boil, and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock, cover, and simmer to blend the flavors, about 3 minutes.
• Uncover, top the chicken evenly with the smoked provola and cover. Adjust the heat to a simmer, cooking about 5 minutes to melt the cheese, then uncover. Bring to a boil, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced to your liking, about 8 to 10 minutes more.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Trim excess fat off chicken. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly smash garlic cloves just to flatten slightly, leaving peel attached and cloves as whole as possible.
• Heat 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, add chicken and cook until brown on all sides, about 12 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken to plate. Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic to pot. Stir until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add wine and thyme; bring to boil. Return chicken to pot. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, moving chicken pieces from top to bottom every 5 minutes (sauce will not cover chicken), about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer chicken to platter. Spoon garlic cloves around chicken and drizzle sauce over.

BRAISED CHICKEN BREASTS ON CREAMY LEEKS

Steps:

• Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
• Add wine to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes. Add leeks and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, then simmer over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth. Top leeks with chicken breasts and juices from plate, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until leeks are tender and chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes .
• Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add cream to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve chicken on top of leeks.