Flattened Chicken With Cantaloupe And Arugula Recipes

ARUGULA & CHICKEN WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Grill or bake the chicken breasts until medium-rare.
• Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and reserve.
• Heat olive oil in a large stir-fry pan over high heat.
• Add garlic and stir-fry until golden but not burn't, about 1 minute.
• Immediately add tomatoes and chicken stock and heat to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Add arugula leaves and toss until they begin to wilt, about 30 seconds.
• Immediately toss in the chicken and cook for 30 seconds.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in plenty of rapidly boiling, salted water until el dente.
• Drain well, and immediately add to the sauce.
• Toss thoroughly to entangle the arugula into the pasta strands.
• (Timing is critical. Make sure the pasta will be done immediately after adding the chicken to the sauce.) Cook 1 to 2 minutes longer until all ingredients are heated through.
• Serve immediately, sprinkling parmesan cheese over each serving.
• Arugula is a peppery leafy vegetable resembling spinach leaves with ragged edges.
• It is generally available during late spring and summer.
• If it is not available, substitute fresh spinach or a 50/50 blend of watercress leaves and spinach.

FLATTENED PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• To prep the chicken:
• On a work surface, place the chicken breast-side down with the neck of the chicken facing you. Using kitchen shears, cut along the length of the backbone on both sides and remove. Turn the chicken over, breast-side up. Open it on the counter and flatten the chicken as much as you can with your hands.
• In a large metal bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, and hot water, until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Add the onion, peppercorns, tarragon, garlic, ice water, and wine. Stir well. Add the chicken to the brine. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the brine and dry well with paper towels. Set the chicken aside. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the hot skillet, and then place the chicken into the skillet skin-side down. Place another heavy pan on the chicken pressing it down firmly to get maximum skin contact with the hot skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and cook under the weight for 8 to 10 minutes. Once browned, remove the weights; turn the chicken skin-side up. Place the chicken in the oven until the meat is 160 degrees F, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let the chicken rest 10 minutes before serving.

FLAT ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbone to remove; discard or reserve for broth, if desired. Open the chicken's legs and spread the bird down flat, skin side up. Press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten. Pat dry with paper towels; season generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large ovenproof skillet, preferably cast-iron, over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add chicken, skin-side down, to skillet. Let brown without moving, about 3 minutes. Turn chicken, taking care not to break the skin; transfer skillet to oven.
• Roast chicken until golden brown and cooked through or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches 165 degrees. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and remaining tablespoon butter to pan, swirling to combine; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, red-pepper flakes, garlic, and pinch of salt. Cut chicken into pieces and serve immediately drizzled with olive oil mixture and pan sauce.

FLATTENED CHICKEN WITH CANTALOUPE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Mix the cantaloupe, oil and lemon juice in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and chili. It should be a little spicy.
• Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally and place between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a heavy meat pounder, evenly flatten each piece to 1/4-inch thick. Brush the chicken with oil, season with salt and set aside for at least 5 minutes.
• Place a large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken pieces in batches to avoid crowding and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Turn and cook for 30 seconds. (This side may not seem cooked through, but it will continue to cook as it sits.) Lay the finished pieces side by side on a baking sheet to cool slightly. Transfer to a serving plate and pour the cooking juices over the chicken. Serve topped with arugula, cantaloupe and cantaloupe juices (or with squashed tomatoes and their juices).

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH GREMOLATA AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• For the gremolata: Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with the salt, and with the side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Chop the parsley leaves with the garlic paste. Stir the parsley mixture with the lemon zest, juice, and olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Preheat a grill pan or nonstick skillet to medium high. Spray the chicken paillards lightly with the olive oil and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Grill the chicken, in batches if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan, turning once, until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Put each paillard on a plate and top with the gremolata.
• Toss the arugula, radicchio, and tomatoes with the 1 teaspoon olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and divide among the plates. Serve immediately.