Best Leek And Herb Stuffed Chicken Recipes

HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add leeks, and cook 4 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons each rosemary and thyme; cook 1 minute more. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl; let cool.
• Using a sharp knife, carve a pocket in the center of each chicken breast by inserting the tip into the thickest part and cutting an opening (leaving about 1 inch uncut on each side), being careful not to cut all the way through the breast. Place 2 tablespoons leek mixture in each pocket. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from heat, and transfer to clean work surface.
• Place bread in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, and process until fine crumbs form. Transfer breadcrumbs to a bowl. Add remaining teaspoon rosemary and 1 teaspoon thyme. Season with the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread 1 teaspoon mustard over one side of each chicken breast, and cover with about 3 tablespoons herbed breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Drizzle remaining teaspoon oil over all.
• Place skillet in oven; roast chicken until it is golden and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; transfer chicken to serving dish, and cover with foil while you make the sauce. Place skillet over medium heat, and add chicken stock; deglaze pan, stirring to loosen any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking until stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add remaining teaspoon thyme. Serve with the chicken.

LEEK & HERB STUFFED JACKETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Place the leeks in a microwaveable bowl with a splash of water, then microwave for 3 mins on High. Set aside. Microwave the potatoes for 10-15 mins on High, turning halfway through cooking. Leave until cool enough to handle, then cut in half lengthways and carefully scoop out the middle into the bowl with the leeks, keeping the potato skin intact.
• Mash the leek and potato with the soft cheese, egg and parsley, then spoon back into the potato skins. Place on a baking sheet, then bake for 15 mins until the filling is golden brown and piping hot, and the skins have crisped up. Delicious served with a tomato and baby leaf salad.

MUSTARD CHICKEN & LEEK ONE-POT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wide casserole dish over a medium-high heat, and season the chicken all over. Cook the chicken on all sides until the skin is crisp and golden brown (they don't need to be cooked through at this point). Transfer to a plate.
• Discard all of the fat in the pan except about 1 tsp, and fry the leeks for 5-6 mins until starting to turn bright green and tender. Add a splash of water if the leeks are beginning to turn golden. Scoop out and set aside with the chicken.
• Tip the potatoes into the pan, then pour over the chicken stock and nestle in the thyme. Cook, uncovered, over a high heat for 10 mins, then reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the mustard, crème fraîche, peas and leeks. Nestle the chicken back into the pan, so it's mostly covered by the sauce.
• Put on the lid and cook for about 20-25 mins until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender. If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix the flour in a small bowl with 2 tbsp cold water. Stir into the sauce and simmer with the lid off for 2-3 mins more until the sauce thickens. Grind over some black pepper to serve.

HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat olive oil and butter in saute pan over medium heat. Add leeks and cook for 4 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and thyme, cook one minute more.
• Season with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl; let cool.
• Using a knife with a sharp, pointed blade, cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast by inserting the tip into the thickest part of the breast, being careful not to cut the whole way through. Place 2 tablespoons of leek mixture into each pocket.
• Make bread crumbs by placing bread into food processor fitted with metal blade. Add remaining herbs, salt and pepper.
• Spread 1 teaspoon mustard over top of stuffed chicken breast.
• Cover with herbed bread crumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
• Place chicken breasts in roasting pan, bread crumb side up.
• Pour chicken stock and wine into pan around chicken.
• Cover with foil, bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more. Internal temperature should reach 165 degrees.

RICOTTA-AND-HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Preheat oven to 400°F with racks in middle and lower third.
• Cook garlic in oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in ricotta, eggs, parmesan, herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Stuff and roast chickens:
• Cut out backbones from chickens with kitchen shears (freeze bones for making stock if desired). Pat chickens dry, then spread flat, skin sides up, on a cutting board. Cut a 1/2-inch slit on each side of chicken in center of triangle of skin between thigh and breast (near drumstick), then tuck knob of each drumstick thourough slit.
• Sprinkle each chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spread chickens flat, skin sides up, in an oiled large (17- by 12-inch) shallow baking pan. Gently slide your finger between skin and flesh of breast and legs of 1 chicken to loosen skin (be careful not to tear skin). Using a small spoon, slide 2/3 cup ricotta mixture under skin, using a finger on outside of skin to spread filling over meat of breast, thighs, and drumsticks. Tuck wing tips under. Stuff second chicken in same manner. Brush skin of chickens all over with oil (2 tablespoons) and sprinkle each with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Spoon remaining filling into an oiled 1-quart shallow baking dish (10 by 7 inches).
• Bake chickens in middle of oven 30 minutes, then put dish of stuffing in oven on lower rack. Continue baking until chicken is just cooked thourough and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of a thigh (through stuffing; do not touch bone) registers 170°F and until gratin is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes more. Let chickens stand 10 minutes, then cut each into quarters. Serve with gratin.