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Braised Chicken Breast with Smoky Provola

5.0

(1)

I had this dish at Roberto’s on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. The smokiness of the provola is the defining element that graces the dish.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

Six 6-to-8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon kosher salt
All-purpose flour, for dredging
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 large fresh basil leaves
6 thin slices prosciutto (about 2 ounces total)
1/2 cup dry Marsala
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock (see page 40)
8 ounces smoked provola, sliced

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Slice open the chicken breasts crosswise to butterfly, so they open to a flattened, even thickness. Season the chicken all over with salt. Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off the excess.

    Step 2

    Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the chicken to the pan, and brown each side for about 2 minutes.

    Step 3

    Once it is browned, top each breast with a basil leaf and a slice of prosciutto. Increase the heat to medium-high. Push aside the chicken to make a dry clear spot in the center of the pan, and pour in the Marsala and white wine. Drop in the remaining basil leaves. Bring to a boil, and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock, cover, and simmer to blend the flavors, about 3 minutes.

    Step 4

    Uncover, top the chicken evenly with the smoked provola and cover. Adjust the heat to a simmer, cooking about 5 minutes to melt the cheese, then uncover. Bring to a boil, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is reduced to your liking, about 8 to 10 minutes more.

Cover of the cookbook featuring the author with a table full of fresh herbs and vegetables.
Reprinted with permission from Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Copyright © 2011 by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
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