Mediterranean Chicken En Papillote Recipes

CHICKEN EN PAPILLOTE WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cut chicken across into 1/2-inch slices. Combine oil, oregano, thyme, lemon peel and juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken and toss to thoroughly coat.
• Combine asparagus, pea pods, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and parsley in a large bowl and set aside.
• Tear 4 20x2 inch pieces of parchment, fold in half crosswise, crease, open up again, and arrange 1/4 vegetable mixture on paper. Top with 1/4 of chicken and 1/4 of the green onions. Now make into a little package by folding the parchment over so the corners match up and crimping and folding the edges over. Twist corners to secure. Repeat 3 more times so you have 4 packets.
• Place 2 packets on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until chicken is done.

CHICKEN BREASTS EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Spread a large piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Invert a 12- or 14-inch round cake pan on it and trace around the edge with a sharp knife to make a circle. Repeat until there are 4.
• Cut off and discard the stem of each mushroom and cut caps into thin slices.
• Cut carrots crosswise into 1 1/2-inch lengths. Cut each piece lengthwise into a julienne shape.
• Trim and wash zucchini, and cut in the same fashion.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Place aluminum rounds on a flat surface and brush them with melted butter.
• Place one chicken breast on each round slightly below the center, leaving a margin large enough to fold over.
• Brush the top of each breast with about 2 teaspoons of mustard and place equal quantities of mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, shallots, thyme around each. Sprinkle each serving with a tablespoon of white wine and parsley, and dot with remaining butter. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Fold foil to completely enclose the contents while leaving some room for expansion. Crimp the seal as tightly as possible. Arrange packages on a baking sheet and bake about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN EN PAPILOTTE MANY WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Rub the olive paste on both sides of each chicken breast half.
• Cut the potatoes into 1/16th-inch slices and thinly slice the tomatoes. Set 4 12-inch squares of foil on the counter. Lightly oil the center of each piece of foil and spread some potato slices in the middle; season them with salt and pepper. Cover the potatoes with a chicken breast half, then cover with more potato slices, salt and pepper and the tomato slices. Wrap the chicken airtight, in a deli sandwich wrap, and set the packages on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.
• When the chicken is done unwrap the packages carefully (be careful the steam which will escape when you open the packages does not burn your hands.) Transfer the chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and the natural juices to deep plates.
• Variations: Instead of the potatoes spread 1/2 cup drained canned white beans, a couple of slivers of fresh garlic, a leaf or two of fresh sage and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil underneath the chicken. Top the chicken with the tomatoes. Or spread each chicken breast half with 1 teaspoon each of oriental sesame oil, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Top each chicken breast half with 1/2 cup sliced jicama; 1 cup raw fresh spinach and 1 sliced scallion. Open and garnish with sesame seeds. Or, instead of the green olive paste and tomatoes, season each chicken breast half with barbecue sauce or ketchup and top with 1/2 cup of frozen corn kernels; leave the potatoes in (especially good for kids)