Florentine Basil-stuffed Chicken Breasts

Total Time: 8 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 8 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 cup fresh basil leaf
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon, zest of
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons margarine, softened
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup crushed corn flakes
• 1/4 cup finely ground cashews
• sweet paprika, to taste
• 1 bag fresh spinach
• salt and pepper
• fresh basil sprig (to garnish)

Recipe

• 1 first make the basil filling:
• 2 combine all the ingredients with just a few tablespoons of olive oil in the food processor
• 3 process until finely chopped, scraping down the sides of the bowl
• 4 with the processor running, add the rest of the olive oil through the food tube until a paste forms
• 5 place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them with a mallet or with a cutting board to an even thickness
• 6 sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste
• 7 combine the margarine with the basil filling
• 8 spread 2 tablespoons of the stuff across each pounded chicken breast
• 9 roll up the breast and secure it with a toothpick
• 10 combine the cornflakes, ground cashews and paprika in a shallow bowl
• 11 beat the eggs in a separate bowl
• 12 dip the chicken bundles in the egg, then dredge in the crumb mixture
• 13 cover a baking dish in parchment paper and place the bundles in the dish
• 14 cover and place in the fridge for 6-8 hours
• 15 preheat the oven to 350 degrees f
• 16 bring the chicken to room temperature
• 17 bake uncovered for 35 minutes
• 18 let stand for 10 minutes
• 19 remove the toothpicks
• 20 wash the spinach well and tear the leaves into smaller pieces
• 21 wilt the spinach in a hot pan, with just the water clinging to the leaves, about 3 minutes
• 22 season to taste with salt and pepper
• 23 place the spinach flat on a serving dish
• 24 place the chicken bundles on top, garnish with sprigs of basil