Rolled Chicken Breasts with Almond-Mint Pesto and Zucchini
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- Yield Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 ounce whole blanched almonds (about 1/4 cup)
- 1 medium shallot, coarsely chopped
- 1 1/4 cups loosely packed fresh mint
- 1/2 cup finely grated pecorino cheese (about 1 ounce)
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 6 ounces each)
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- Olive-oil cooking spray
- 3 medium zucchini (about 6 ounces each), cut into 3-by-1/2-inch strips
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
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Toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely. Process almonds and shallot in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Add 1 cup mint; pulse a few times until coarsely chopped. Add cheese and oil; pulse a few times until combined. Transfer to a small bowl.
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One at a time, place chicken breast halves on a cutting board between two sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a small, heavy skillet until 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle each piece all over with 1/8 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
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Put breast halves on a cutting board, smooth side down, and spread evenly with pesto. Roll up chicken, starting with the pointed tip of each piece. Secure with two toothpicks, pushing them in sideways at an angle; set aside.
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Coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add zucchini and garlic; season with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini just turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, tossing occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar; season with pepper. Transfer zucchini to a medium bowl, and cover with foil.
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Wipe skillet clean. Coat with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add rolled chicken, and cook, turning to brown all sides, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes, and cut each roll into 5 pieces. Toss reserved zucchini with 1/4 cup mint. Divide zucchini and chicken among four plates.
how long would you bake the chicken?
If you are looking to try something other than almonds in the pesto, try softened pine nuts. It adds nutrients to the dish and it is absolutely delicious!
I agree with the last comment. I would LOVE to see nutritional info. I often cook for my parents, one of whom is waiting on a heart transplant and other has high blood presure.
With this being under the EAT WELL heading I would have liked to see the nutritional information.
It was pretty quick to prepare and I cooked it in the oven since I am on a diet and I did not want to add any more fats to what was already in the pesto. I have lemon mint in my garden an it was wonderful for this pesto.
I love these rolled up meats! I do this with beef and pork sometimes (with different stuffing). I think tonight, I'll try this. My partner doesn't like too much mint so i'm going to try to use classic basil pesto, but I have no almonds so I'm going to try to substitute with peacans.
SOUNDS GOOD! LOOKS GOOD! GUESTS WILL REALLY LIKE.