Pesto chicken recipe

Recipe Categories :  | Chicken | Pine nuts | Chicken breast |

Serves : 4      Preparation time : 20 minutes     Cooking time : 25 minutes

Ingredients :

• 1 cup firmly packed basil leaves
• ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 4 chicken breast fillets
• 2 tspn oil, extra
• 2 tspn butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ½ cup white wine
• ¾ cup chicken stock
• 1 tbsp pine nuts, toasted, extra

Preparation and Cooking Instructions

1. Process the basil, pine nuts and parmesan until fine. With the motor still running, gradually add the oil to form a smooth paste and season
2. Trim the chicken of any excess fat or sinew. Heat the extra oil in a frying pan, add the chicken and cook over a high heat until browned. Remove from the pan and cool slightly. Cut 4 deep slashes across the chicken, three-quarters of the way through. Fill each slash with a tspn of the pesto.
3. Cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes until soft. Add the wine and stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, pesto-side-up, and simmer, partly covered for 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle with the extra pine nuts.