Sesame-Crusted Chicken with Velvety Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
This exquisite dish features tender, succulent chicken breasts encrusted with nutty sesame seeds, complemented by a rich and creamy roasted red pepper sauce. Ideal for dinner parties or family gatherings, this recipe is both elegant and satisfying. The roasted red pepper sauce can be made in advance, allowing flavors to meld for an even deeper taste. For those who prefer a milder flavor, feel free to use garlic herb cream cheese spread instead of goat cheese. Finish with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds for visual flair and a delightful crunch. Your guests will be impressed and asking for seconds!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
Butter or Margarine
1/3 cup (melted)
Black Sesame Seeds or Regular Sesame Seeds
1/3 cup (for coating)
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
6 (about 2 pounds)
Chevre Cheese with Herbs (Goat Cheese)
1 (6-ounce) package (stuffed into chicken pockets)
Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon (for frying)
Roasted Red Peppers
1 (7-ounce) jar (drained)
Garlic Clove
1 (finely chopped)
Sugar
1 teaspoon
Salt
1/4 teaspoon
Ground Red Pepper (Cayenne)
1 dash
Sour Cream
1 tablespoon (for sauce)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.
2
In a large shallow bowl, melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Set it aside.
3
Make a 2-inch horizontal slit in the side of each chicken breast to create a pocket. Carefully stuff each pocket with 1 tablespoon of the chevre cheese.
4
Dip each stuffed chicken breast into the melted butter, ensuring it is well coated. Sprinkle the sesame seeds generously over the top and sides of each breast.
5
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown.
6
Transfer the browned chicken to the prepared baking dish. Drizzle any remaining melted butter over the chicken.
7
Bake the chicken uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
8
While the chicken bakes, prepare the Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. In a mini food processor or blender, combine the drained roasted red peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, and ground red pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth.
9
Pour the pepper mixture into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream for a creamy finish.
10
Once the chicken is done, serve each breast on a plate with a generous pool of roasted red pepper sauce. Optionally, garnish with extra black sesame seeds.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sesame-Crusted Chicken with Velvety Roasted Red Pepper Sauce?
It is an elegant dish featuring chicken breasts stuffed with goat cheese, coated in sesame seeds, and served with a creamy red pepper sauce.
How do I prepare the chicken for stuffing?
Make a 2-inch horizontal slit in the side of each chicken breast to create a pocket for the cheese.
What type of cheese is used for the stuffing?
The recipe calls for Chevre (goat cheese) with herbs, but you can substitute with garlic herb cream cheese.
Can I substitute goat cheese?
Yes, if you prefer a milder flavor, you can use a garlic herb cream cheese spread instead.
What temperature should the oven be?
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).
How do I get the sesame seeds to stick to the chicken?
Dip the stuffed chicken breasts into melted butter first, then sprinkle the sesame seeds generously over the top and sides.
Should I brown the chicken before baking?
Yes, cook the chicken in a nonstick skillet with olive oil for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown before placing in the oven.
How long does the chicken need to bake?
Bake the chicken uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.
What is the safe internal temperature for the chicken?
The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius).
What goes into the Roasted Red Pepper Sauce?
The sauce consists of drained roasted red peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, ground red pepper, and sour cream.
How do I make the sauce smooth?
Process the peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, and ground red pepper in a mini food processor or blender until smooth.
When should I add the sour cream to the sauce?
Add the sour cream after the pepper mixture has been warmed through in a saucepan and removed from the heat.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, the roasted red pepper sauce can be made in advance to allow the flavors to meld.
What kind of sesame seeds should I use?
You can use regular sesame seeds or black sesame seeds for visual flair and crunch.
What size baking dish is required?
A 13x9x2-inch rectangular baking dish is recommended.
How much chicken does this recipe use?
The recipe uses 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, which is about 2 pounds.
Do I need to grease the baking dish?
Yes, lightly grease the baking dish with cooking spray before adding the chicken.
What type of oil is best for frying?
You can use either olive oil or vegetable oil.
Is the sauce spicy?
The sauce contains a dash of ground red pepper (cayenne) for a hint of heat, but it is primarily savory and creamy.
How do I serve the dish?
Serve each chicken breast on a plate with a generous pool of the roasted red pepper sauce.
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
Yes, the recipe allows for either butter or margarine for coating the chicken.
How much cheese goes into each chicken breast?
Each chicken pocket should be stuffed with 1 tablespoon of the chevre cheese.
Should the chicken be covered during baking?
No, bake the chicken uncovered to maintain the texture of the sesame crust.
What should I do with leftover melted butter?
Drizzle any remaining melted butter over the chicken before putting it into the oven.
How do I prepare the garlic for the sauce?
The garlic clove should be finely chopped before being blended with the peppers.
Is this recipe suitable for guests?
Yes, it is described as an elegant and exquisite dish ideal for dinner parties.
Do I need to drain the roasted red peppers?
Yes, ensure the roasted red peppers are drained before processing them into the sauce.
What provides the visual flair in this dish?
Sprinkling extra black sesame seeds as a garnish provides visual flair and a delightful crunch.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 11 ingredients total, including the chicken, coating, stuffing, and sauce components.
What is the total cooking time for the chicken?
It takes about 8 minutes of skillet browning followed by 15-20 minutes of baking.