Showing posts with label prosciutto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prosciutto. Show all posts

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Ruth Pretty's Prosciutto Chicken with Tomatoes

Caterer Ruth Pretty
During my stay in New Zealand I had the good fortune to attend a party catered by the delightful and generous Ruth Pretty.

The food was divine. Here's one of her latest recipes.

 


 
 

 Ruth Pretty's Prosciutto Chicken with Tomatoes
Serves 8
Chicken
4 chicken breasts (skin on, trimmed, rinsed and dried)
1¼ TBS grated lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2  1/2 TBS finely chopped parsley
1¾ tsp. flaky sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

4 large slices prosciutto

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180ºC )

Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic and, using the flat side of a meat mallet, pound breast to 1/4-inch (5mm-7mm) thickness.

To make rub: Into a small bowl place lemon rind, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Place chicken skin side down on a clean work surface. and rub the exposed surface of each breast with 1 teaspoon of the rub. Starting from the narrow end roll each breast like a scroll.

Lay prosciutto out on a clean work surface, place a rolled chicken breast onto each slice and roll to fully cover the chicken.

Lightly grease a low-sided baking tray and place prosciutto chicken onto tray. Place into preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or till prosciutto is crispy and chicken is tender.

Remove from oven, cover with a heavy tea towel, and rest for 5 minutes.

8 Slow Roasted Tomatoes
oil for greasing tray
8 medium tomatoes, cored and halved
3 TBS olive oil
3 TBS balsamic vinegar
flaky sea salt
freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (150ºC)

Place tomatoes on a baking tray brushed with oil.
Into a small bowl place measured olive oil and balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Drizzle over tomatoes and sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper.

Place into preheated oven and bake for 1 hour or till tomatoes have softened and are lightly caramelized on top. Serve warm or hot.
 
Verjuice and Basil Dressing*
(1/3 cup + 2 tsp) extra virgin olive oil (if possible an olive oil with a soft flavor profile)
(3 tbsp) verjuice*
1/2 tsp flaky sea salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 large basil leaves, roughly torn

Into a small bowl place olive oil, verjuice, salt and pepper and whisk well till amalgamated.  Just prior to serving add basil and gently stir to combine.

To serve: Slice each breast thickly on the angle into six pieces. Place Slow Roasted Tomatoes onto a large warm platter and place chicken on tomatoes. Drizzle with Verjuice and Basil Dressing and serve immediately.

* You can find verjuice, the juice of unripened (green) grapes, at a specialty food shop. It is softer and more wine friendly than vinegar in a sauce. Google it and you'll find a great N. Y. Times article on it by John Willoughby.