Gourmet Bacon Wrapped Boursin Stuffed Chicken Delight
Indulge in the culinary magic of succulent chicken breasts filled with creamy Boursin garlic and herb cheese, wrapped luxuriously in crispy bacon or pancetta. This dish combines tantalizing flavors and textures to keep the chicken moist and bursting with richness. Enhanced by the aromatic accompaniment of roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine, this exquisite meal promises to impress. Designed for a romantic dinner for two, it's easily scalable for larger gatherings. Enjoy with a side of seasonal vegetables and a jacket potato for a complete dining experience. Freeze at the stuffed and wrapped stage for convenient preparation anytime. For an additional touch of decadence, consider whisking up a creamy wine sauce from the cooking juices. Prepare to enchant your taste buds with this unforgettable dish.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
2 large (flattened)
Boursin cheese or garlic & herb spreadable cheese
100g (divided and spread)
Smoked streaky bacon or pancetta
6 slices or 2-4 slices (wrapped)
Olive oil
1 teaspoon (for coating dish)
Cherry tomatoes on the vine
10-12 (uncut)
Salt
to taste (for seasoning)
Fresh ground black pepper
to taste (for seasoning)
Lemon juice
from 1/2 lemon (for drizzling, optional)
Crème fraîche
2 tablespoons (for sauce, optional)
White wine
to taste (for sauce, optional)
Watercress
as needed (for garnish)
Instructions
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1. Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F/Gas Mark 5).
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2. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat an ovenproof dish with olive oil.
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3. Place each chicken breast between two sheets of cling film. Gently flatten using a cook's mallet until they're uniformly thin, avoiding any holes in the meat.
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4. Lay the flattened chicken breasts on a work surface. Spread half of the Boursin cheese evenly over each breast right up to the edges.
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5. Carefully roll up the chicken breasts, tucking in the small 'fillet' flap to secure the stuffing.
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6. Wrap each rolled chicken breast with bacon or pancetta, ensuring minimal overlap and sealing the edges underneath.
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7. Move the wrapped chicken into the prepared baking dish.
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8. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Add salt sparingly considering the bacon's saltiness.
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9. Drizzle over the lemon juice, if using, then arrange the cherry tomatoes around the chicken while keeping them on the vine.
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10. Roast in the middle of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, adjusted for the size of the chicken breasts and specific oven variances.
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11. Once done, transfer the chicken to serving plates either whole or sliced. Complement with watercress and roasted tomatoes.
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12. Offer alongside a mix of fresh seasonal vegetables and a jacket potato, draping the excess Boursin sauce over the chicken and tomatoes.
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13. (Optional) For the sauce: Mix crème fraîche and white wine into the cooking juices in the dish. Whisk over medium heat directly on the stove or in a saucepan until creamy. Keep the chicken warm during this process.
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14. To Freeze: After stuffing and wrapping, wrap each portion in cling film and place in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature for 4-5 hours or overnight in the fridge, then cook as directed. Best when used within 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary protein used in this recipe?
The primary protein used is boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
What type of cheese is recommended for the stuffing?
Boursin garlic and herb cheese or any similar garlic and herb spreadable cheese is recommended.
What do I wrap the chicken in?
You can use either smoked streaky bacon or pancetta slices to wrap the chicken.
How should I prepare the chicken breasts before stuffing?
Place the chicken between two sheets of cling film and gently flatten it with a cook's mallet until uniformly thin.
At what temperature should the oven be preheated?
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F or Gas Mark 5).
How long does the chicken need to roast?
Roast for approximately 45 to 55 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
How should I prepare the baking dish?
Lightly coat an ovenproof dish with olive oil using a pastry brush.
Can I freeze this dish for later?
Yes, you can freeze the chicken at the stuffed and wrapped stage before cooking.
How do I thaw the frozen chicken portions?
Thaw at room temperature for 4-5 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
How long can the stuffed chicken stay in the freezer?
It is best used within 3 months of freezing.
How do I ensure the Boursin cheese stays inside the chicken?
Carefully roll the chicken and tuck in the small fillet flap to secure the stuffing before wrapping with bacon.
Should I season the chicken with salt?
Yes, but use salt sparingly because the bacon or pancetta is naturally salty.
What vegetables are roasted with the chicken?
Cherry tomatoes on the vine are arranged around the chicken in the baking dish.
How do I make the optional creamy sauce?
Whisk crème fraîche and white wine into the cooking juices in the dish over medium heat until creamy.
What sides go well with this dish?
It is best served with fresh seasonal vegetables and a jacket potato.
Is lemon juice required?
Lemon juice is optional and used for drizzling over the chicken before roasting.
What garnish is recommended for the final plate?
Watercress is recommended as a garnish for the final presentation.
How many servings does the base recipe make?
The recipe is designed for two servings but can easily be scaled for more people.
Why is cling film used during preparation?
It is used when flattening the chicken to prevent the meat from tearing or sticking to the mallet.
Can I use white wine in the recipe?
Yes, white wine can be added to the cooking juices to create an optional decadent sauce.
What is the texture of the chicken after cooking?
The bacon wrap keeps the chicken moist while the cheese filling adds a rich, creamy texture.
How much Boursin cheese should be used per chicken breast?
You should use approximately 50g (half of a 100g pack) per chicken breast.
Should I cut the tomatoes before roasting?
No, the cherry tomatoes should be left uncut and on the vine for roasting.
Is it better to serve the chicken sliced or whole?
You can serve it either way; slicing it can beautifully display the stuffed cheese center.
What type of oven rack should I use?
Roast the dish in the middle of the oven for even heat distribution.
Can I substitute the bacon with anything else?
Pancetta is the recommended alternative to bacon for this gourmet version.
How do I apply the Boursin cheese to the chicken?
Spread the cheese evenly over each flattened breast right up to the edges before rolling.
Does the recipe include fiber information?
The raw nutritional data for fiber is currently unavailable for this specific recipe.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include gourmet, easy, quick, impressive, and freezer friendly.
How much olive oil is needed?
Only 1 teaspoon is needed to lightly coat the baking dish.