Best Almond Apricot Chicken With Mint Pesto Recipes

APRICOT-ALMOND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Place chicken in pan; spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, mix preserves, soy sauce and mustard; microwave on High 1 minute or until preserves are melted.
• Stir preserves mixture and spoon over chicken; sprinkle evenly with almonds. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).

ROLLED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ALMOND-MINT PESTO AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Toast the almonds in a skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely. Process the almonds and shallot in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Add 1 cup mint; pulse a few times until coarsely chopped. Add the cheese and oil; pulse a few times until combined. Transfer to a small bowl.
• One at a time, place the chicken breast halves on a cutting board between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a small, heavy skillet until 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle each piece all over with 1/8 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• Put the breast halves on a cutting board, smooth side down, and spread evenly with pesto. Roll up the chicken, starting with the pointed tip of each piece. Secure with 2 toothpicks, pushing them in sideways at an angle; set aside.
• Coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the zucchini and garlic; season with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini just turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, tossing occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar; season with pepper. Transfer the zucchini to a medium bowl, and cover with foil.
• Wipe the skillet clean. Coat with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the rolled chicken, and cook, turning to brown all sides, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes, and cut each roll into 5 pieces. Toss the reserved zucchini with 1/4 cup mint. Divide the zucchini and chicken among 4 plates.
• (Per serving)
• Calories: 339
• Fat: 13g
• Cholesterol: 103mg
• Carbohydrate: 9g
• Sodium: 532mg
• Protein: 45g
• Fiber: 3g

APRICOT CHICKEN WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a 13- by 9-inch flameproof baking dish (not glass).
• Pat chicken dry and sprinkle all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper total, then arrange at least 1/4 inch apart in baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.
• While chicken bakes, toast almonds in a small baking pan in oven, stirring twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook apricot preserves, soy sauce, mustard, butter, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until preserves are melted. Pour sauce over chicken and continue to bake until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes more.
• Turn on broiler and broil chicken 4 to 5 inches from heat, basting once, until chicken is glazed and browned in spots, about 3 minutes. Serve sprinkled with almonds.

ALMOND-APRICOT CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, adding apricots during the last 4 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; place in a large bowl. Add broccoli, chicken, onions and celery. , In a small bowl, combine the next eight ingredients. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and chill until serving; fold in almonds.

LEFTOVER-HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse garlic, nuts, herbs, oil, and Parmesan in a food processor until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper.

ROLLED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ALMOND-MINT PESTO AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely. Process almonds and shallot in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Add 1 cup mint; pulse a few times until coarsely chopped. Add cheese and oil; pulse a few times until combined. Transfer to a small bowl.
• One at a time, place chicken breast halves on a cutting board between two sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a small, heavy skillet until 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle each piece all over with 1/8 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• Put breast halves on a cutting board, smooth side down, and spread evenly with pesto. Roll up chicken, starting with the pointed tip of each piece. Secure with two toothpicks, pushing them in sideways at an angle; set aside.
• Coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add zucchini and garlic; season with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini just turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, tossing occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar; season with pepper. Transfer zucchini to a medium bowl, and cover with foil.
• Wipe skillet clean. Coat with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add rolled chicken, and cook, turning to brown all sides, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes, and cut each roll into 5 pieces. Toss reserved zucchini with 1/4 cup mint. Divide zucchini and chicken among four plates.