Flaky Pastry Pesto Chicken Recipes

FLAKY PASTRY PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7.
• Unroll the pastry, cut it in half lengthways, then cut each half widthways into 8 equal strips.
• Flatten the chicken breasts by pounding with your fist until the fat ends are the same thickness as the skinny ends.
• Place them in a roasting tray, season with sea salt and black pepper, spread over the pesto, then lay 4 overlapping strips of pastry over each breast, tucking them under at the edges. Brush with a little olive oil.
• Lightly dress the tomato vines in olive oil, season and put into a second tray. Place the chicken tray on the top shelf of the oven with the tomatoes below, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the chicken is cooked through.
• Meanwhile, line up the beans, trim off just the stalk ends, then cook in a pan of boiling salted water for 7 minutes, or until tender.
• Remove the chicken to a board with half the tomatoes, squashing the rest in the tray and discarding the vines. Drain and toss in the beans, taste and season to perfection.
• Slice the chicken at an angle and serve on top of the beans, with the whole tomatoes.

JAMIE OLIVER'S FLAKY PASTRY PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/gas 7. Unroll the pastry, cut it in half lengthways, then cut each half widthways into 8 equal strips. Flatten the chicken breasts by pounding with your fist until the fat ends as the same thickness as the skinny ends. Place them in a roasting tray, season with sea salt and black pepper, spread over the pesto, then lay 4 overlapping strips of pastry over each breast, tucking them under at the edges. Brush with a little olive oil. Lightly dress the tomato vines in olive oil, season and put into a second tray. Place the chicken tray on the top shelf of the oven with the tomatoes below, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the chicken is cooked through. Meanwhile, line up the beans, trim off just the stalk ends, then cook in a pan of boiling salted water for 7 minutes, or until tender. Remove the chicken to a board with half the tomatoes, squashing the rest in a tray and discarding the vines. Drain and toss the beans, taste and season to perfection. Slice the chicken at an angle and serve on top of the beans, with the whole tomatoes. CALORIES 618kcal FAT 34.8g SAT FAT 18g PROTEIN 36.3g CARBS 40.4g SUGAR 7.1g SALT 1.7g FIBRE 4.9g 5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver is published by Penguin Random House ⓒ Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited. Photographer: David Loftus.

FLAKY CHICKEN HAND PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Remove skin and meat from bones. Chop meat roughly into 1/2-inch chunks and set aside or refrigerate, covered, for up to 2 days. (If desired, save skin, bones and pan drippings for stock.)
• Make filling: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme and chopped mushrooms. Season mixture with salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium.
• Cook, stirring, until onions have colored slightly and mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat. Add broth and cook, stirring, as mixture thickens. Add chicken, turn heat to low and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in crème fraîche, turn off heat, and set aside to cool. Stir in scallions and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured (or parchment-paper-covered) work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out into an approximate 15-inch square. Use the tip of a knife to cut into 9 equal squares. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture into the center of each piece, then divide any remaining mixture evenly on top, so each has the same amount.
• Pick up and fold one corner of pastry over the filling to make a triangular pie. Press and pinch both edges together tightly to seal. Divide on the prepared pans.
• Brush the tops with egg wash and bake until deep golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

EASY PESTO CHICKEN SKILLET

Steps:

• Season chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir for about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer chicken to a bowl and keep warm.
• Pour chicken broth into the skillet and add gemelli. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 8 minutes. Add broccoli and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely cooked, about 5 more minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese, whipping cream, and pesto until combined. Return chicken to the skillet and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

PESTO CHICKEN PUFF PASTRY PACKETS

Steps:

• Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a 1/2-inch thickness. Divide each breast into 2 even portions. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and until lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Remove garlic and discard.
• Cook chicken in the skillet until well browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Remove chicken onto a plate and coat with pesto. Cover the plate with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Unfold pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 14-inch square and cut into four 7-inch squares. Sprinkle an equal portion of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over each square; place a piece of chicken on top.
• Whisk egg and water together in a bowl; brush mixture over the edges of the pastry squares. Fold corners of the pastry over the chicken to the center and press to seal. Place filled pastries seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Brush with the egg mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.