Herb Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipes

HERB GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine goat cheese, basil, oregano, thyme, lemon rind, salt and pepper; set aside. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 8 hours.)
• With sharp knife held horizontally and starting at thinner side, cut each chicken breast in half almost but not all the way through; open like book. Place between sheets of plastic wrap; pound with mallet to even thickness.
• Roll 2 Tbsp (30 mL) of the filling into a log shape; place into crease of chicken breast. Fold top and bottom over ends of log; fold side edges of chicken over log to overlap. Turn chicken over so seam is underneath. Repeat with remaining chicken. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.)
• Brush chicken with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on greased rimmed baking sheet. Roast in 375°F (190°C) oven until chicken is cooked through and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• In a bowl, cover tomatoes with boiling water; let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain and dice.
• In large skillet, melt half of the butter over medium heat; fry onions until very soft and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Add remaining butter; sauté mushrooms and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Return onions to pan. Add sherry; cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes.
• Add stock and cream; bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce is thick enough to coat back of spoon, about 4 minutes.
• Slice each chicken breast on angle into 4 pieces. Spoon sauce onto plates; arrange chicken over sauce.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Divide the chicken breasts in half, removing the cartilage. Loosen the skin from the meat by running a finger underneath the skin.
• Combine the goat cheese, herbs, garlic and pepper.
• Place a generous tablespoon of the cheese mixture between the skin and the meat of each breast. Replace the skin over the cheese and tuck all the edges of the meat and skin under to form a neat package. Arrange the breasts in a large roasting pan.
• Brush the chicken with the olive oil.
• Roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove to a warm platter.
• Pour off the fat from the roasting pan. Place the pan over medium-high heat. Add the wine and deglaze, scraping up bits of cheese and blending with the wine. Serve the chicken with this sauce on the side.

HERB GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine goat cheese, basil, oregano, thyme, lemon rind, salt and pepper; set aside. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 8 hours.)
• With sharp knife held horizontally and starting at thinner side, cut each chicken breast in half almost but not all the way through; open like book. Place between sheets of plastic wrap; pound with mallet to even thickness.
• Roll 2 tablespoons of the filling into a log shape; place into crease of chicken breast. Fold top and bottom over ends of log; fold side edges of chicken over log to overlap. Turn chicken over so seam is underneath. Repeat with remaining chicken. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.)
• Brush chicken with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on greased rimmed baking sheet. Roast in 375 degree oven until chicken is cooked through about 20-30 minutes.
• In a bowl, cover tomatoes with boiling water; let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain and dice.
• In large skillet, melt half of the butter over medium heat; fry onions until very soft and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Add remaining butter; saute mushrooms and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Return onions to pan. Add sherry; cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes.
• Add stock and cream; bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce is thick enough to coat back of spoon, about 4 minutes.
• Slice each chicken breast on angle into 4 pieces. Spoon sauce onto plates; arrange chicken over sauce.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, make an incision in the side of each chicken breast, passing the knife though horizontally to make a slit but not cutting through the other side of the breast. With the paring knife inserted, rotate the knife to carve out a bit more space and create a pocket. Season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Lightly beat the egg white in a bowl to break it up, then add the goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, shallots, mustard and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag (or piping bag). Snip off a corner of the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into each chicken breast until filled.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and glistening. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down and cook until the skin turns a dark golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the butter, garlic and thyme, then flip and transfer the pan to the oven; cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

CHICKEN WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached.. Cut 12 thick slices of the Montrachet and place 2 slices plus a large basil leaf under the skin of each chicken breast. Rub each piece with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN ROULADE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the spinach, goat cheese, almonds, breadcrumbs and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• In another bowl, combine the butter, parsley, rosemary, thyme and lemon zest. Set aside.
• Lay the chicken breast-side down. Slice through the skin along the backbone of the chicken, cutting through the skin. Using your boning knife and fingers, release the skin from the chicken, angling the knife towards the meat of the chicken. Once you have loosened the skin from the back side, turn the chicken over so it is breast-side up and slice down the center of the breast. Using your boning knife and fingers, pull back the skin from each side. Once you get to the legs and wings, cut around each piece to release the skin from the joint. Take your time, this takes practice, and it doesn't have to be perfect, we just want as much skin as possible. Once you have removed the skin from each side of the chicken, set them aside.
• Remove each breast from the chickens by taking your boning knife and following the breast bone down each side. Use the bones as your natural guide, follow it all the way down to remove the breast.
• Once the breasts are removed, butterfly each breast by cutting into the thickest part of the breast horizontally, creating a pocket, like opening up a book. Once butterflied, place each breast in between 2 layers of plastic wrap and, using a meat mallet, pound until it is 1/4-inch thick.
• Lay the chicken breasts flat and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Divide the herbed goat cheese stuffing between the 4 breasts, placing the stuffing mixture towards the bottom third of the breast, closest to its narrowest point. Roll the breast around the stuffing, tucking in the ends as you roll, like you would a burrito.
• Lay the chicken skins out and divide the herb butter between them, placing the butter just below the center point of the skin. Place the rolled breast directly on top of the butter and then wrap the skin around the chicken, tucking in the ends, repeating the same process you did to roll the breasts. Once rolled, secure the skin with 3 toothpicks, one in the middle and one on each end.
• Heat the oil in a nonstick, oven-safe saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the roulades and sear on all sides until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes.
• Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Remove the toothpicks, slice and serve.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a chicken breast flat on a cutting board, using a sharp knife, about 1/3 of the way down the thick side, cut a deep pocket horizontally into the center of the meat about 3/4 of the way down, being careful not to cut through to the other side. (The pocket will be about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.) Repeat with the remaining breasts. Wash hands well.
• In a small bowl, mash together the goat cheese, butter, chives, parsley, thyme, lemon juice and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide into 4 equal pieces and form plugs to fit inside the chicken breasts. Insert 1 into each breast and press the edges of chicken meat to seal. Lightly season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• In a large shallow bowl, combine the flour and the Essence. In another bowl, beat the egg with the water.
• One at a time, lightly dust the chicken on both sides with the flour, then dip in the egg, shaking to remove any excess. Place again in the flour and turn to completely coat, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
• In a large, oven-proof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Arrange the risotto in the center of 4 plates and place the chicken to the side. Arrange the carrots along the bottom of the plates, and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to very low to keep hot.
• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until wilted and their liquid is evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque, about 1 minute. Stir in the thyme. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until nearly all evaporated. Add 3/4 cup of the stock, the salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the stock is nearly all evaporated. Continue adding more stock 1/2 cup at a time as the previous addition is nearly absorbed, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in cream, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and the parsley and mix well.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste. If desired, stir in truffle oil to taste.
• Serve immediately, topping each portion with a sprinkling of the remaining cheese and ham.
• In a large stockpot, combine all the ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally to remove any foam that forms on the surface.
• Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. (If necessary, strain again.) Remove the meat from the bones and reserve for another use. Discard the bones and vegetables. Let the stock cool completely, and refrigerate overnight. Skim any fat that forms on the surface. Keep refrigerated in airtight containers until ready to use, up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• On a cutting board, using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the carrots in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise. With the flat edge down, cut into thin slices. Place the slices in a stack and slice into even matchstick pieces. (If a fine dice is required, these pieces in turn are chopped into equal small cubes.)
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and blanch until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and shock in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking and preserve color.
• When ready to serve the carrots, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. When foamy, add the carrots and cook, stirring, until warmed through and glossy, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil on a baking sheet, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the shallots, and cook until they turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook and stir an additional 2 minutes. Transfer the shallot mixture to a bowl. Mix in the goat cheese, dates, and basil; stir until well combined.
• With a sharp knife, cut a 1-inch long slit into the thick side of each chicken breast. Work your fingers into the slit, and expand the slit to form a pocket in the breast meat. With your fingers or a spoon, stuff each chicken breast with about 1/4 cup of the goat cheese mixture. Wipe off any cheese mixture from the outside of the chicken breast, and wrap each breast in a slice of prosciutto so that the pocket opening is covered. Place the chicken breasts, seam sides down, onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken meat is no longer pink and the prosciutto is browned and crisp, about 40 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts over after 20 minutes.