Feta Brined Chicken Breasts Recipes

FETA-BRINED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Pound chicken to an even 1-inch thickness and place in a gallon-sized resealable bag.
• Lightly crush oregano and rosemary sprigs using the back of a knife or a meat mallet so they are lightly bruised but still whole. Place on top of chicken.
• Combine feta cheese, reserved brine, water, and garlic in a blender and process until smooth. Pour brine mixture over chicken, seal the bag, and refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Remove chicken from brine and pat dry. Brush with olive oil place in a large baking dish. Season with black pepper and place a lemon slice on each breast.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 22 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

FETA-BRINED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• The day before serving, combine 2 ounces feta, 2 teaspoons salt and 4 cups water in a blender and blend until smooth. Put chicken in an extra-large resealable plastic bag or a container large enough to submerge chicken, and cover with the feta brine. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Before cooking, remove chicken from brine and transfer to a towel-lined tray. (Discard brine.) Pat chicken dry with paper towels and allow to come to room temperature for 1 hour.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, the oregano and the zest of the lemons (about 1 tablespoon). Liberally cover chicken in herb mix and gently massage entire bird. Halve lemons and place 3 halves in cavity (save remaining half for serving). Using kitchen twine, tie legs together.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add oil and heat until it just smokes. Place chicken, breast-side up, in pan. Transfer entire pan to oven. Cook, basting once or twice, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven, then stir remaining crumbled feta into juices in pan and stir well. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes in the pan before slicing and serving on a bed of greens, with feta-laced pan juices on top, drizzled with a little lemon juice from the reserved lemon half.

GRILLED GREEK CHICKEN BREASTS WITH WHIPPED FETA

Steps:

• Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise.
• Combine red wine vinegar, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and garlic powder in a bowl. Add chicken and toss until thoroughly and evenly coated. Pour in ¼ cup olive oil and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 12 hours, but 2 to 3 hours is ideal.
• Place Greek yogurt in another bowl and crumble in feta cheese. Add garlic, mint, and lemon zest and whip with an electric hand mixer or whisk until light and fluffy. Taste and adjust as needed. Refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat a charcoal grill until coals are white and very hot.
• Grill chicken over the hot coals for about 4 minutes per side; continue to flip and grill chicken until no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of each piece reads at least 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). Remove from the grill and let rest for about 5 minutes.
• Spread whipped feta onto a serving platter or plate and place chicken over top. Sprinkle with fresh Italian parsley and mint and serve.

FETA-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to slice a pocket in the thickest part of each chicken breast.
• Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
• Cut feta block into 10 slices crosswise, then cut in half again lengthwise. Roll each piece of feta in the bread crumb mixture to coat. Stuff 2 pieces coated feta into the pocket of each chicken breast. Season breasts with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, add chicken and cook until cheese is melted and chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove to a plate and keep warm while cooking remaining chicken.
• Slice chicken at a 45-degree angle and arrange on a plate. Sprinkle with crumbled feta.