Apricot And Cashew Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipes

CASHEW CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine the preserves, mustard and curry powder in a large skillet and heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until preserves are completely melted and smooth.
• Place cashews in a shallow dish or bowl. Dip chicken breasts in skillet sauce, then roll in nuts to coat and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes. Boil any remaining sauce and serve on the side with the baked chicken.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH APRICOT STUFFING

Steps:

• Put 1/3 cup olive oil, the garlic, 1 tablespoon marjoram, the lemon zest and juice, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and pulse to make a paste. Loosen the chicken skin with your fingers. Rub the paste under and over the skin and inside the cavity. Put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Make the stuffing: Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red onion, celery and dried apricots and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the bread and parsley and cook, stirring, until combined, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fill the chicken cavity with the stuffing, tie the legs together with twine and put breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan; tuck the wings underneath. Roast until the skin begins to brown, about 30 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue roasting until deep golden brown, about 1 more hour. (Cover loosely with foil if it's browning too quickly.)
• Whisk the preserves and vinegar in a small bowl; brush on the chicken and continue roasting until the skin is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 20 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with marjoram sprigs.

GOAT CHEESE, APRICOT, AND SAGE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium-size saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Don't let the onions and garlic brown. Next, add the chopped sage and salt and pepper to taste, and cook until the onions are translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the apricots and cook until heated through, 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Thoroughly mix in the goat cheese and set aside. (This can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before stuffing the chicken breasts.)
• Place each chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. With a kitchen mallet, a cleaver, or a heavy tin can, such as a can of tomatoes, pound the breasts until they are between 1/8 and 1/4-inch thick. (They will not roll easily if they are too thick.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread about 1/4 cup of the stuffing down the center of each chicken breast. Fold up the short ends of the chicken breast, and then roll one long side jelly-roll-fashion to the other side. Tie the ends with string to secure them. Place the egg in a shallow bowl and the panko crumbs in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken in the egg, and then roll in the panko crumbs until completely coated. In an ovenproof saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the pan and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Then put the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is a deep golden color and firm when pressed, 10 to 12 minutes.
• After the chicken breasts come out of the oven, remove the strings and put them on a warmed platter; tent with foil. Next, place the pan over high heat and deglaze it with the wine. Boil until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the chicken stock. Boil until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes, and add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Cut each breast in half crosswise and place one half on its side on the plate. Lean the second half against the first, facing down. Alternatively, slice breast into even slices. Drizzle with the sauce, garnish with sage leaves, and serve immediately.

JALAPENO-STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place jalapeno peppers on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high power until soft but still plump, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and discard seeds. Dice peppers.
• Mix diced peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, onion, cream cheese, garlic, and cumin together in a bowl.
• Make a pocket in each chicken breast, being careful not to cut through the sides or bottom, as follows: Make a vertical slice in the top center of each breast, starting about 1/2 inch in from each edge. Starting inside the vertical slit, cut horizontally into the chicken breast in both directions; this should leave you with a nice pocket.
• Press 1/4 of the pepper-cheese mixture into each breast. Close and secure with toothpicks. Spray chicken breasts with cooking spray and season with salt.
• Place chicken on the preheated grill with toothpicks facing upwards. Grill for 12 minutes, then turn and cook until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 3 to 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove toothpicks before serving.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS W/ APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Rinse and then pat dry two whole chicken breasts, preferably on the bone, skin attached.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, including under the skin, and in the natural split in the meat. This is where the stuffing will go.
• Set aside in refrigerator while preparing the stuffing.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Sauté diced vegetables for stuffing in enough vegetable oil to coat the pan.
• Start with the onion, then add the mushrooms, celery, adding the herbs last, until all the vegetables are soft and aromatic.
• Add sauté to cubes of bread in a bowl off of the heat, mixing together.
• Add hot stock (veggie stock is fine, here too) a little at a time, making sure the bread soaks it up.
• Add one lightly scrambled egg to the mixture.
• Take out your chicken a prepare to stuff! Use your fingers to open the split further, and start filling it in with stuffing, until just a bit is mounding out of the chicken. The moisture of the stuffing will help to keep in it place.
• You may use cotton kitchen string to keep skin and stuffing all in place, or toothpicks.
• Heat a large sauté pan to medium high, with enough oil to coat the pan(I use the same pan I sauté the vegetables in).
• Add the breasts skin side down until the skin is turning golden.
• While chicken is in pan, mix apricot jam with water, heating in microwave to soften, approximately one minute.
• Turn breasts in pan over and sear for five minutes.
• Turning off heat on stove top, coat the chicken, skin side up, with the apricot glaze, and letting any excess pour into pan.
• Place in the oven until done, about fifteen more minutes. Using a meat thermometer, the chicken should be at about 175 - 180°F.
• If serving several courses, these breasts can be served in halves. It's quite a bit of meat, and looks nice cut crosswise, showing the stuffing.

CHICKEN WITH CASHEW STUFFING

Steps:

• Combine all Stuffing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
• Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry.
• Place chicken breast between two sheets of waxed paper.
• Working from center, gently pound chicken with rolling pin or flat side of meat mallet until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Spread stuffing evenly over breast and roll breast up (like a sleeping bag).
• Place in buttered baking dish and brush tops of breast with butter.
• Cook at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

APRICOT CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick.
• In small bowl, mix cereal, apricots and butter. Spoon half of cereal mixture on center of each chicken breast. Fold chicken in half horizontally over stuffing; secure with toothpicks. Place in ungreased 9-inch square pan.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat preserves and lemon juice over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until preserves are melted. Pour over chicken.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine the goat cheese, ricotta and 1 tablespoon shallots; spread over the center of each chicken breast. Roll up and secure with toothpicks., In a small nonstick skillet, brown chicken in oil on all sides. Remove and keep warm., In the same skillet, saute remaining shallots until tender. Stir in the broth, spreadable fruit, lemon juice and mustard. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half., Return chicken to the pan; cook, covered until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, 6-7 minutes. Discard toothpicks. Serve chicken with cooking liquid. Sprinkle with parsley.

APRICOT STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Combine dried apricots and cranberries in the amount of water indicated to mix stuffing per microwave directions. When hot add stuffing and mix till moist. Then add applesauce to dressing in place of butter that the stuffing calls for.
• Stuff the breasts with equal portions of stuffing and place on greased casserole dish. Paint tops of breasts with Caesar dressing/or ranch dressing then sprinkle with breadcrumbs and parmesan.
• Bake for approximately 1 hour in 325 to 350 oven. To garnish after cooked take the jar of apricot jam and heat without the lid in microwave till it is pourable and drizzle over your stuffed chicken.

CINNAMON-APRICOT CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the water, cinnamon stick, 2 tablespoons butter, sugar and salt; bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside. , In a large skillet, cook chicken in remaining butter over medium-high heat until a thermometer reads 170°. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, saute onion and garlic over medium-low heat until onion is tender. Stir in the broth, apricots, juices, zest and savory; simmer for 5 minutes. , Remove cinnamon stick from rice; stir in apricot mixture. Spoon into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with chicken. , Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with pecans and bake for 10 minutes or until juices run clear.