Chicken Thighs Stuffed With Plantain And Serrano Ham Recipes

Steps:

• Insert a paring knife into the thickest part of each chicken breast to make a 3-inch-long pocket down the side, cutting in about halfway. Rub the insides of the pockets with 1 tablespoon of the mustard for all 4 breasts. Stuff each breast with 2 half slices of ham and 1 slice of provolone, folding them to fit. Rub both sides of the chicken breasts with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the chicken; reduce the heat to medium if the chicken becomes too dark towards the end of the cooking time. Cover the skillet with a lid or a piece of aluminum foil during the last 3 minutes of cooking time to finish cooking the chicken through to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Check the temperature at the thickest part of the breast without stuffing.
• Transfer the chicken to 4 plates or a cutting board and add the chicken broth and remaining 1 tablespoon mustard to the skillet. Cook, whisking, over medium-high heat until the sauce has reduced by about half, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and swirl in the butter and chopped herbs.
• Depending on the size of the breasts, either put 1chicken breast on each of 4 plates or slice all the breasts and divide among 6 plates. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve with Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes on the side.
• Serving suggestion: Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes, recipe follows.
• Place a rimmed baking sheet in the center rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Thinly slice the potatoes about 1/8-inch thick and toss with the oil, salt and pepper. Carefully spread the slices on the hot baking sheet in a single layer and roast until golden and crispy, turning with a metal spatula occasionally and spreading them out to cook evenly, 30 to 35 minutes.

Steps:

• Peel the very ripe plantains and slice diagonally. In a skillet pan fry the plantains in 2 Tbsp olive oil and butter until golden on each side. Set aside to cool. Once cool, mash the plantains with a fork.
• Pound the chicken thighs between two sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap until thin. Season each side with salt and pepper to taste. In a pan saute the onions, peppers and tomatoes until soft. Add this to the mashed plantain and mix well.
• Spread the plantain mixture on the inner side of each chicken thigh. Roll each chicken thigh and wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate until firm.
• Unwrap each chicken thigh and pinch with a skewer to avoid them from opening during cooking. Place each chicken thigh in a hot pan with 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. Turn to brown each side. To the pan add Kraft Italian Fat Free Salad Dressing. Cover until chicken is cooked through. Check for doneness and serve 2 thighs per person.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan place the plantain and boniato (or yam) and add cold water to cover by 1 inch. Put over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce temperature to medium and simmer until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Drain water from the plantain and boniato, bringing them back into the same saucepan. Mash them together with potato masher or fork, then stir in cumin, 1/2 teaspoon butter, and the Mexican crema. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
• Place a chicken breasts into a large Ziploc bag, close the bag almost all the way, then flatten the meat to a thickness to between 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch; repeat with remaining pieces.
• Season both sides of the chicken with salt and black pepper. Place a chicken piece on a flat work surface and top with a slice of prosciutto. At one end of the prosciutto-covered chicken place 1 tablespoon of the plantain mixture shaped into a rectangular "log." Roll up the chicken and secure with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces, prosciutto, and plantain mixture. Dredge the stuffed chicken in flour to coat.
• In a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter together with the olive oil. Add the stuffed chicken pieces to the skillet and brown chicken on all sides, about 5 minutes total.
• Add 1/4 cup no-salt chicken stock/broth or water to the skillet and reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and let simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Prepare a warm serving platter and transfer the cooked stuffed chicken pieces to the platter. Remove the toothpicks from the pieces.
• Add the fresh lemon juice to the drippings in the skillet and increase temperature to high. Let cook for 1 minute, stirring to get the browned bits from the bottom of skillet. Pour the sauce over the stuffed chicken pieces and serve.
• Adapted from May 2007 Bon Appétit and Daisy Martinez's recipe for Chicken Thighs Stuffed with Plantain and Serrano Ham.
• Note: lime juice for the sauce would also be very nice, and a completely different taste! You can also substitute chicken thighs for breasts.