Athenian Chicken Rolls Recipes

ATHENIAN CHICKEN: INSPIRED BY THE FLAVORS OF GREECE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Pound chicken breasts flat*-they should uniformly be about 3/8-inch thick.
• Combine 3 tablespoons of minced herbs with garlic and 1/3 of the cheese.
• Lay out breasts with what was the skin-side down, lightly season breasts with salt and pepper then spread half of cheese/herb mixture on each breast, roll up, and either tie with twine or pin with toothpicks.
• Heat oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then, treating the breasts as though they're 3-sided, brown on 2 sides-about 3 minutes per side. Turn unbrowned side down and place skillet in the oven on the middle rack and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven and place breasts on a plate and tent with foil.
• Being very careful of the hot handle, add wine to the cast-iron skillet over medium heat and scrape up browned bits. Reducing wine by about half.
• Add half and half and bring to a simmer. Add remaining herbs (reserving a couple of pinches for a final garnish), feta, white pepper to taste, and lemon juice. Cook for about 30 seconds.
• Plate chicken breasts, removing twine or toothpicks, pour the sauce over them and sprinkle with a final pinch of herbs. (For a colorful and nutrient-rich meal, you might want to serve this with roasted cherry tomatoes, microgreens, fresh peas, and either orzo , couscous or rice.)
• Serve and enjoy.

ATHENIAN CHICKEN ROLLS

Steps:

• Place chicken between two pieces of wax paper and gently pound until almost double in size. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper.
• In large frypan, place olive oil and heat to medium temperature. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add spinach and saute until barely wilted; stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• Remove mixture from frypan, drain, cool and divide into 8 parts. On each chicken breast, place 1 part of the spinach mixture; sprinkle cheese evenly over chicken, roll up and fasten with toothpicks.
• In medium bowl, mix eggs and milk. In separate shallow bowl, place bread crumbs. Add chicken, first in egg mixture and then in bread crumbs, dredging to coat.
• In same frypan, place peanut oil and heat to medium temperature. Add chicken and cook until brown. Remove chicken to pan with cover and bake in 350 oven about 30 minutes or until fork can be inserted with ease.
• To make sauce, drain most of oil from frypan, leaving brown bits on bottom of pan; add butter and melt over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute about 2 minutes. Add flour, stirring to blend and thicken. Add chicken broth, wine, lemon juice and capers. Cook about 4 minutes or until thickened.
• Place chicken rolls on serving dish and pour sauce over rolls.

GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a glass dish, mix the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lemon juice. Place the chicken pieces in the mixture, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on the grill, and discard the marinade. Cook chicken pieces up to 15 minutes per side, until juices run clear. Smaller pieces will not take as long.

ATHENIAN CHICKEN AND SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pan and cook chicken until brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
• Add in the onion garlic and pepper and sauté until chicken is thoroughly cooked and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• While chicken and vegetables are cooking, cook the broth, lemon juice, lemon peel, and oregano in a small pot; bring to a boil.
• Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, broth should reduce down to about 1/2 cup.
• Serve chicken topped with sauce and olives sprinkled on top.

GREEK PHYLLO-WRAPPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In bowl, mash together feta cheese, egg yolks and garlic.
• Mix in onions, parsley, mint and pepper.
• With sharp knife held horizontally and starting at rounded side, cut chicken in half almost but not all the way through; open like a book.
• Spread feta mixture evenly on 1 half of each breast; fold breast over to enclose.
• Place 1 sheet of phyllo on work surface, keeping remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out.
• Brush lightly with some of the butter; top with second sheet and brush lightly with butter.
• Centre 1 breast on phyllo about 2 inches from the short edge; fold long sides over chicken and roll up.
• Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Place in lightly greased baking dish; brush with remaining butter.
• If making ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
• Bake in 350 degree F oven until crisp and golden, about 45 minutes.
• Serve with lemon wedges.