Chicken Legs With Ricotta And Bacon Stuffing Recipes

BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Quickly stir in spinach, and continue cooking until the spinach has wilted. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, and set aside to cool.
• Slice through the chicken breast horizontally to within 1/2 inch of one long edge, then open the meat like a book. Place each opened chicken breast in between two pieces of plastic wrap, and pound with a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
• Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and onion powder into the cooked spinach until blended. Evenly divide this mixture among the chicken breasts, then roll each into an oblong shape, like a burrito, tucking in the ends. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Wrap each breast with 2 strips of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place into the prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until the bacon is brown and crispy, and the chicken is no longer pink, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.

CHICKEN LEGS WITH RICOTTA AND BACON STUFFING

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE STUFFING: Remove the rind from the bacon and chop finely.
• Fry in a dry pan until crisp.
• Remove cooked bacon and set aside.
• In the same pan, heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic until soft.
• Put the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, chives, tarragon, bacon, onion, garlic and nutmeg in a large bowl.
• Mix together, lightly, to combine ingredients.
• PREHEAT OVEN TO MODERATE- 350 degrees F (180C/Gas mark 4).
• Using your fingers, ease the skin away from the thigh and leg of the chicken, being careful not to pierce the skin.
• Gently push the stuffing mixture evenly under the skin.
• Draw the skin back over the stuffing.
• Place the chicken in a lightly oiled, shallow roasting pan.
• Brush chicken with the melted butter.
• Roast for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly.
• Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH PANCETTA & RICOTTA STUFFING BALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Season the chicken inside and out, then place in a large roasting dish. Rub all over with the oil. Place in oven, then cook for 1 hr 30 mins, spooning oil and juices over the bird a few times during cooking.
• Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Whizz the bread and parsley in a food processor or grate the bread on the biggest holes of a grater. Mix with the rest of the stuffing ingredients, apart from the pancetta or bacon, in a large bowl. Use your hands to shape into 12 balls, then wrap a slice of pancetta or bacon around each.
• Test if the chicken is done by inserting a skewer into the thigh meat; when the juices run clear, remove from the roasting dish. Place on a serving plate and loosely cover with foil. While the chicken is resting, pour away any excess fat from the dish and tip in the stuffing balls. Cook for 20 mins until crisp and golden. Serve alongside the chicken.