CHICKEN AND ALMOND MANICOTTI

CHICKEN AND ALMOND MANICOTTI image

Yield 6-12

Number Of Ingredients 24

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Ingredients

12 manicotti pancakes (recipe below)
Chicken filling
2 chicken breasts, skinned, boned and cut in half
1/2 lemon
3 1/2 tbsp plus 1 tsp butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp flour
1 cup fresh or canned chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tbsp blanched almonds
1 tbsp dry vermouth
1 small egg
1 cup ricotta cheese
6 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp chopped parsley
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
Manicotti pancakes:
3 eggs
1 cup water
1 cup flour
salt to taste
melted butter

Steps:

Manicotti pancakes: Break the eggs into a bowl and beat with a whisk. Stir in the water. Add the flour gradually, stirring with the whisk. Add the salt and let stand for 1/2 hour. Heat a 7- or 8-inch crepe pan or small Teflon skillet and brush lightly with butter. Add about 3 tbsp of the batter and tilt the pan this way and that until the batter covers bottom. The crepes should be quite thin but substantial enough to handle. Cook for about 35 seconds on one side and turn, using a spatula or the hands. Cook on the other side briefly, 2 or 3 secs. Slide out. Continue making pancakes, brushing the skillet lightly with butter if necessary before each pancake. Set aside and cover with damp towel. Chicken filling: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the breasts in a bowl and squeeze lemon over it, adding the rind. Let stand. Melt 1 1/2 tbsp of butter in a saucepan and the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion is wilted. Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring with whisk. Add the broth, stirring rapidly with the whisk. When thickened and smooth, add half the cream. Simmer for 10 min., stir rig occasionally, and add the Gruyere cheese, slat and pepper to taste. Set aside Melt 1 tsp of butter in a small skillet and add the almonds in one layer. Place in oven and bake, shaking and stirring the almonds until golden brown. Let cool. Drain chicken pieces. Pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Melt 2 tbsp butter in skillet and aadd chicken. Brown on both sides, 3 or 4 min. Remove and add vermouth. Cook for 20 secs, stirring. Pour drippings into a bowl. Cut chicken into 1/2 inch cubes and add to the bowl. Add almonds, remaining heavy cream, egg, ricotta cheese, 3 tbsp Parmesan and chopped parsley. Blend well with fork To assemble: spoon equal amounts of chicken down centre of manicotti pancake and roll. Spoon sauce on bottom of dish to cover bottom. Arrange manicotti on sauce, and cover with remaining sauce. Bake 15-20 min until piping hot.