Mushroom-Stuffed Five-Spice Chicken Breasts with Eggplant
- 2 pounds eggplant, peeled and sliced 1 inch thick
- Salt
- 5 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 teaspoon five-spice powder
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- Four 6- to 7-ounce boneless chicken breasts, with skin
- Vegetable oil, for brushing and drizzling
- Sprinkle the eggplant slices on both sides with salt and let stand for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, blend 4 tablespoons of the butter with 1/2 teaspoon of the five-spice powder and season with salt and pepper.
- In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter.
- Add the mushrooms, cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until browned, about 6 minutes.
- Stir in the scallions and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of five-spice powder and season with salt and pepper; let cool.
- Light a grill.
- Gently loosen the skin on the chicken breasts.
- Spread the mushroom mixture under the skin and smooth out the skin.
- Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels and brush with oil.
- Grill over moderate heat until nicely charred and tender, about 5 minutes per side.
- Keep warm.
- Drizzle the chicken breasts with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill, skin side down, over moderate heat, until lightly browned and crisp, about 10 minutes.
- Turn and grill until nicely browned, about 10 minutes.
- Continue grilling, turning a few times, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breasts registers 165, about 5 minutes longer.
- Transfer the chicken to a carving board and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken breasts crosswise 3/4 inch thick.
- Arrange the chicken and eggplant on plates, dollop with the five-spice butter and serve.
eggplant, salt, unsalted butter, fivespice powder, freshly ground pepper, white mushrooms, scallions, chicken breasts, vegetable oil
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mushroom-stuffed-five-spice-chicken-breasts-eggplant (may not work)