Best Chicken Manchego Recipes

CHICKEN ROULADES WITH CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• For the stuffing: Carefully slice through the chicken breasts to open the thickest part like a book. Place the chicken breasts in between plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet to flatten and even out the chicken. Reserve.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and sprinkle with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook the onions until they are soft and very aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Crumble the chorizo and add to the pan. Cook the chorizo until it is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Transfer the chorizo mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs, Manchego, parsley, almonds and egg. Taste to make sure the stuffing is delicious.
• Divide the filling among the 4 chicken breasts. Make a log of stuffing across the widest part of the chicken breast. Fold the ends over the stuffing and roll the chicken up to enclose the stuffing. Secure the rolls shut with a toothpick.
• For the breading: Set up a standard breading procedure with 3 bowls: 1 with flour, 1 with 2 eggs beaten together with 2 tablespoons water and 1 with the panko breadcrumbs.
• Dust each chicken roll lightly with flour, then dip in the egg wash and then roll in the panko. Once all the chicken rolls have been breaded, let them hang out in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add olive oil to a large, straight-sided saute pan until it reaches a depth of 1/2-inch and bring the pan to a medium-high heat.
• Brown the chicken rolls on all sides. When the chicken is brown, remove from the pan and blot on paper towels. Transfer the rolls to a sheet tray and place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
• For the sauce: Add a few drops of oil to a saute pan and add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook the shallots for 3 to 4 minutes and then add the sherry vinegar. Reduce the vinegar by half. Add half the chicken stock, season with salt and bring it to a boil. When the stock has reduced by half, add the remaining stock and reduce by half again. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed (it probably will).
• Turn the heat to medium and swirl in 1 pat of butter at a time.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, slice each roll into 4 or 5 slices, plate and spoon the sauce over.
• Wine Pairing Suggestion: Albarino (Spanish wine goes with the Spanish ingredients).

CHICKEN MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Dice cheese and red peppers into small bite-size pieces.
• Zest/grate lemon peel (no white).
• Combine cheese, red peppers, lemon zest, almonds, 3 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper; let stand 15-20 minutes for flavors to blend.
• Preheat grill pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Coat chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with lemon pepper (wash hands). Place chicken in pan; grill 4-5 minutes on each side or until 165 degrees.
• Slice chicken; top with cheese mixture and serve.

SPANISH CHICKEN STEW WITH MANCHEGO POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a cast iron skillet or large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, to taste, and the paprika. Brown the chicken for a couple minutes on each side, then add the chorizo and brown for a couple minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in the wine to deglaze the pan, then add the tomatoes, peppers and parsley. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
• In a medium pot, bring the stock to a boil over high heat. Slowly add the polenta and whisk until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the butter and cheese, then spoon the polenta into shallow bowls and make a well in the center. Fill the polenta-lined bowls with the stew and serve.

CHICKEN AND FRISéE SALAD WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS, TOASTED ALMONDS, AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over low heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer almonds to paper towels; sprinkle with Pimentón de La Vera and season with salt. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Whisk shallot, vinegar, and oil in small bowl to blend. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Place frisée, red peppers, and chicken meat in large serving bowl. Add dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle salad with almonds and cheese.
• **Test-kitchen tip:**A vegetable peeler is the perfect tool for shaving Manchego cheese. *Available at some supermarkets and specialty foods stores, and by mail from La Tienda (888-472-1022; tienda.com).

POLENTA SQUARES WITH POMEGRANITE CHIPOTLE CHICKEN AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Butter 9 x 12 -inch-diameter glass baking dish. Bring broth to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in corn meal. Reduce heat to medium and whisk constantly until mixture thickens, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese, baking mix and butter; stir until cheese melt. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared dish; using buttered knife, spread evenly. Cool until polenta is firm, at least 1 hour. Line baking sheet with foil. Cut polenta into squares. Transfer squares, bottom side up, to prepared sheet, fitting closely together. (Can be made 1 day ahead by cutting, covering and chilling.) Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake polenta squares until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheet. Next, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 13×9 inch pan with cooking spray. Add olive oil and onions to skillet and cook over medium for 3 minutes. Add chicken and cook with onions for 4 minutes or until chicken is just-opaque. Remove from heat and stir in chopped bacon. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over baked polenta squares; spoon chicken mixture evenly over cheese. Drizzle pomegranate chipotle sauce over cheese, then top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Sprinkle pecans over top. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly; sprinkle top with cilantro. Pomegranite Chipotle BBQ Sauce (submitted as separate entry as well) ½ cup organic tomato paste 4 T. organic balsamic vinegar 2 T. organic blackstrap molasses ½ cup organic brown sugar 2 T. organic gluten free Tamari ½ c. dark agave nectar ½ c. pomegranate juice ½ t. chipotle chile powder 1 T. cornstarch Mix all ingredients, except cornstarch, in a medium size bowl with whisk. Whisk in cornstarch. Transfer to medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat while whisking for 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool.

CHORIZO CHICKEN SPINACH STOUP WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER AND MANCHEGO TOASTS

Steps:

• Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Add the chorizo and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring it frequently. Remove it from the pot to drain on a paper towel. To the hot soup pot add the onions, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook while stirring frequently for about 4 or 5 minutes, or until the onions are tender and have taken on a little color.
• Defrost the spinach in the microwave on high for 6 minutes. Place the spinach in a kitchen towel and wring out the liquid. Add the spinach to the onions and continue to cook for about 2 minutes. Transfer the onions and spinach to a blender or food processor with 1/2 cup of the chicken stock. Puree it until somewhat smooth. (If the pureeing gives you any trouble, add some more stock to get it going.) Add the pureed spinach back to the soup pot and stir in the remaining 3 1/2 cups of chicken stock and the cream. Bring it up to a simmer and add the reserved chorizo and bite-size chicken pieces. Simmer them gently for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors have come together.
• Preheat the broiler and place a rack on the second groove. While the soup is simmering, toast the baguette slices until they are golden brown under the broiler. Mix the grated manchego with the roasted red pepper and the parsley on your cutting board. Once the toast is nice and golden, top each with a little of the cheese mixture and return them to the broiler or toaster oven to melt and lightly brown the cheese.
• Transfer the stoup to serving bowls and serve 2 roasted pepper and manchego toasts alongside.

CHICKEN ROULADES WITH CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• For the stuffing: Carefully slice through the chicken breasts to open the thickest part like a book. Place the chicken breasts in between plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet to flatten and even out the chicken. Reserve.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and sprinkle with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook the onions until they are soft and very aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Crumble the chorizo and add to the pan. Cook the chorizo until it is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Transfer the chorizo mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs, Manchego, parsley, almonds and egg. Taste to make sure the stuffing is delicious.
• Divide the filling among the 4 chicken breasts. Make a log of stuffing across the widest part of the chicken breast. Fold the ends over the stuffing and roll the chicken up to enclose the stuffing. Secure the rolls shut with a toothpick.
• For the breading: Set up a standard breading procedure with 3 bowls: 1 with flour, 1 with 2 eggs beaten together with 2 tablespoons water and 1 with the panko breadcrumbs.
• Dust each chicken roll lightly with flour, then dip in the egg wash and then roll in the panko. Once all the chicken rolls have been breaded, let them hang out in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add olive oil to a large, straight-sided saute pan until it reaches a depth of 1/2-inch and bring the pan to a medium-high heat.
• Brown the chicken rolls on all sides. When the chicken is brown, remove from the pan and blot on paper towels. Transfer the rolls to a sheet tray and place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
• For the sauce: Add a few drops of oil to a saute pan and add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook the shallots for 3 to 4 minutes and then add the sherry vinegar. Reduce the vinegar by half. Add half the chicken stock, season with salt and bring it to a boil. When the stock has reduced by half, add the remaining stock and reduce by half again. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed (it probably will).
• Turn the heat to medium and swirl in 1 pat of butter at a time.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, slice each roll into 4 or 5 slices, plate and spoon the sauce over.
• Wine Pairing Suggestion: Albarino (Spanish wine goes with the Spanish ingredients).