Basil Cilantro And Macadamia Nut Chicken Recipes

BASIL, CILANTRO AND MACADAMIA NUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put ginger, garlic and peppers into a food processor and process til smooth.
• Add macadamia nuts and continue to process.
• Add oil, lime juice yogurt, basil, cilantro and spices and process again until smooth.
• Put the chicken in a medium bowl, and add the mixture, stirring to coat all pieces.
• Cover and refrigerate chicken for 12 hours.
• This step is not necessarily required (I have made it after marinating for only 1/2 hour, but the flavor is much better if you do let it marinate).
• Heat a bit of oil (2 tbls) in a wok, or deep dish fry pan.
• Add chicken and its marinade to pan and cook thoroughly, stirring frequently, until marinade sticks to chicken.
• This will take about 20 minutes to 1/2 hour.
• The mixture will look soupy at first, and then begin to thicken up as the sauce reduces.
• I like a little heat, so I also add a little chili oil to the dish.
• Serve with steamed jasmine or basmati rice.

CHICKEN WITH GINGER-CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in processor. Blend until nuts are finely chopped. Add 6 tablespoons oil and process until well blended. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté until brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
• Transfer chicken breasts to plates. Top each with some pesto and serve.

CILANTRO PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Place first 8 ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until smooth, then add the pasta water. Toss with hot pasta, adjust seasonings, then serve immediately.

MACADAMIA NUT CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Marinade: Combine ingredients.
• Chicken: Marinate chicken for 1 hour, turning occasionally, then drain.
• Combine nuts and bread crumbs.
• Dredge chicken in flour, dip in beaten eggs then coat with nut mixture and chill for at least 1/2 hour.
• In a heavy skillet, heat oil and butter and sauté chicken over medium heat for 6-8 minutes turning once, adding more oil if necessary.
• Garnish and serve with Mango Chutney.

CRUNCHY MACADAMIA NUT CHICKEN OVER TROPICAL FRUIT PAELLA

Steps:

• Tropical Fruit Paella:.
• Put the rice in a sieve and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain well. In a saucepan, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sautee for about 3 minutes, until soft. Add the rice, lemongrass and salt and stir well. Add the stock, stir, cover and cook for 12 to 14 minutes over medium heat until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Remove and discard the lemongrass.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat the remaining 2 Tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and sautee for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper, green onion, water chestnuts, and all the fruits and saute lightly for about 2 minutes, until heated through. Add this mixture to the rice and toss to combine. Keep warm until serving time.
• Pineapple Chutney Dipping Sauce:.
• Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.
• Chicken:.
• Put the rolled oats in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Put the macadamia nuts in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not stuck together. Add the nuts to the oatmeal and mix well. Add the flour, thyme and Parmesan cheese and mix well again. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Dip the chicken breasts into the melted butter. Dredge the breasts in the oats mixture until they are well coated.
• In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts skin side down and fry, turning once, for about 4 minutes on each side, until crispy and brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• To Serve:.
• Put a spoonful of the paella in the center of each plate and top with a chicken breast. Serve with the dipping sauce alongside.

MACADAMIA NUT CHICKEN BREASTS WITH TROPICAL MARMALADE

Steps:

• Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl, and blend well. Add chicken breasts, and let marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.
• While chicken is marinating, prepare the Tropical Marmalade by combining in a saucepan all the Tropical Marmalade ingredients (except mint); bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and let simmer for 1 hour or until the mixture reaches jam consistency. Stir frequently to avoid scorching. Cool. Fold in fresh mint, to taste; set aside.
• Remove chicken from refrigerator, and let drain. Combine macadamia nuts and bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken breasts in flour, then dip in beaten eggs, and then coat with the macadamia nut mixture.
• In a heavy skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Saute chicken for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once. (Add a litte more oil if necessary, since macadamia nuts may absorb oil.).
• Serve with Tropical Marmalade.

MACADAMIA CHICKEN WITH ORANGE-GINGER SAUCE AND COCONUT PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Put flour and coconut milk in separate wide, shallow bowls. In another bowl, mix nuts and panko. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Sprinkle all over with salt and pepper.
• Put 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess; dip into coconut milk, letting excess drip off; then press into nut mixture to coat on all sides. Reserve coconut milk. Lay chicken in frying pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. With a spatula, turn pieces (taking care not to break off nut coating) and brown on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to a baking pan and bake until no longer pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, wipe any scorched nuts from pan with a paper towel. If pan is dry, add 1 tablespoons each butter and olive oil, then shallots, ginger, and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Pour in broth, wine, and orange juice. Boil until liquid is reduced by about half, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a blender and, holding lid down tightly with a towel, whirl until very smooth. Return sauce to frying pan and add 1/4 cup reserved coconut milk (discard remainder) and salt and pepper to taste; stir over low heat until hot, then pour into a small bowl.
• Spoon Coconut Pilaf onto plates, top with chicken, and serve with sauce.
• *Chop the nuts by pulsing briefly in a food processor. Finely shred the peel from the oranges and save it for the pilaf.