6 August, 2015

Tomato Basil Chicken

Comments : 11 Posted in : Chicken, Main Dish on August 6, 2015 by : Cook Plate Fork Tags: Apple, Bible, Casserole, chicken breast, chicken breasts, Garlic, Gernot Katzer, Greece, Mediterranean cuisine, Mediterranean diet, Olive, Olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parsley, Pesto, quick and easy recipe, Sea salt, Spain, Sweet Basil, Thailand, Tomato, Tomato Basil Chicken

You have some chicken breasts and are looking for a new idea to prepare them? Well you have arrived to the right place for a quick and easy recipe. It’s our Tomato Basil Chicken entrée. Besides being healthy with all fresh ingredients that include tomato, basil, and garlic, this recipe is reminiscent of warm weather and luscious Mediterranean summers.

According to Spice Pages by Gernot Katzer, basil is native to India, though it is not used as a culinary herb, but rather is considered sacred and use in religious rites. Besides the most common Mediterranean type basil sold in the Western world, there is also varieties from the Asian world, such as Thailand‘s sweet basil with a licorice flavor, and a lemon basil which has a distinct balm-like flavor. Katzer states there are also verities introduced to European gardeners from Africa as well (Spice Pages: Basil).

Now for our featured recipe: Tomato Basil Chicken, and here is what you will need.

1 lb boneless chicken breast (about 2-3 medium sized pieces) with the skin on

1 teaspoon of rock salt, Himalayan or Sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon if salt is ground

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 handfuls of fresh chopped basil, about 1 1/2 cups

1 ½ -2 cups fresh diced tomato

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cloves of garlic

Dice the tomatoes, and chop the garlic. Tear the basil apart by hand.

Next, season the chicken breasts with the salt and pepper. You may use the ground salt, but the rock salt lends a more rustic appeal to the dish.

In a preheated ceramic coated pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and place the chicken skin side down.

Next add the garlic and allow the chicken to brown on both sides, turning once.

Once both sides are adequately cooked, add the tomatoes. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes until the tomatoes have softened and some of it has formed a sauce with the olive oil and garlic. Next add the basil and cook for another minute.

Next add the grated Parmesan cheese and remove from the heat.

Plate and serve. Makes 2 to 3 servings. Add a side of cooked Mediterranean vegetables or a Greek salad.

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