Basque-Style Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 7 ounces each
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/4 -inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/2 cup dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/8 teaspoon Espelette pepper
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 1/2 cup diced tomato, cut into 3/4 -inch dice
- 1/4 cup nicoise olives
- 1. Place each chicken breast between two large pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet or heavy skillet, pound each breast until it is uniformly about one-fourth-inch thick. Season each piece with one-fourth teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Place each breast on top of a large piece of plastic wrap or wax paper.
- 2. In a large skillet, heat the butter and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken, one piece at a time, and saute until golden-brown, about 2 1/2 minutes on the first side and 30 seconds on the other. Remove the chicken to a plate. Set aside in a warm place.
- 3. Drain the excess fat from the pan and add the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the shallot and saute for 1 minute, until tender, then add the garlic and saute just until aromatic, a few seconds, being careful not to brown. Add the wine, stirring to scrape up the browned bits at the bottom of the pan.
- 4. Stir in the chicken broth, the Espelette pepper, thyme and tomatoes. Allow the sauce to come to a
- simmer and cook for
- 5 minutes so that the flavors develop. Stir in the olives.
- 5. Add the chicken back
- to the pan, spooning the sauce over it. Cook for 1 minute, then remove
- the chicken to a plate. Spoon the sauce evenly over each piece, and serve immediately.
- Each serving: 515 calories; 45 grams protein; 6 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 30 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 135 mg. cholesterol; 1,144 mg. sodium.
chicken breasts, salt, freshly ground black pepper, butter, olive oil, pancetta, shallot, clove garlic, white wine, chicken broth, espelette pepper, thyme, tomato, nicoise olives
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/basque-style-chicken-50017018 (may not work)