CRANBERRY, FONTINA AND WALNUT STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Cranberry, Fontina and Walnut Stuffed Chicken Breasts image

This is much easier then it sounds, and so full of flavor. I take advantage of pre grated cheese, a small package of pre chopped walnuts and dried cranberries, all from the local grocer. Apple jelly tops the chicken as a nice glaze with some dried sage. Then for a side dish ... wild rice, with small bites of granny smith apples sauteed with onions cooked in chicken broth with fresh sage. The ultimate rice dish. Still done in 20 minutes. The combination of my chicken breasts and this rice dish, and maybe some roasted beets and a small salad makes this a really nice dish to entertain with ... without breaking the bank.

Provided by SarasotaCook

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 Chicken breasts, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

6 chicken breasts, thin sliced and flattened (medium size)
1/2 cup chopped onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped celery, chopped fine
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped fine
1 cup Fontina cheese, grated (you can also use gruyere or swiss)
kosher salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil to saute the chicken
2 tablespoons butter to saute the chicken
1 teaspoon butter to saute the vegetables
1 cup flour
1 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup apple jelly
1 teaspoon dried sage

Steps:

Chicken -- now I like to take advantage of the frozen chicken breasts for this. They tender to be a bit smaller and once thawed are are bit easier to flatten out. I found some of the fresh boneless skinless breasts are so big they are actually too big for me, but use what ever you have. I just flatten mine with my mallet in between saran wrap, but you can use what method you like best.
Filling -- In a medium sauce pan (use a oven proof pan) add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt on medium heat. Add the celery, onion and garlic and just sweat on medium until they get nice and soft. Cook 4 minutes, then add in the cranberries and cook another 2 minutes and then the walnuts. Mix all until everything is soft and well combined. Remove and let cool slightly.
Stuffing the chicken -- Just lay out your chicken breasts flat, salt and pepper and then add a little of the cranberry and vegetable stuffing. Top it with some fresh grated cheese. As I said, I love fontina, but you can use a gruyere or even swiss if you want. Then roll up the chicken. Just roll up and try to tuck in the sides as you go. I like to use a couple of tooth picks to secure it at the end.
Dredging the Cooking -- Add flour, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to a small bowl and the egg to a second bowl, now dredge each chicken in the egg and then the flour/breadcrumb mixture to coat well. Now, in the same pan you cooked the vegetables in add the remainder of the butter and olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Cook each chicken breast on all sides just a couple minute until lightly brown.
Glaze -- Keep the chicken in that pan, it is going in the oven. But first, mix the apple jelly and sage and heat in the microwave in a measuring cup just 20 seconds to thin out. Then brush on the chicken on all sides. Transfer the pan to oven and cook on 375 for about 10-15 minutes, turn the chicken over half way through and brush on more glaze. until golden brown.
Remove the chicken cover and let set a few minutes until the juices re distribute. Then slice into pretty slices and serve with my apple and onion wild rice. A nice farmers market green beans or roasted beets make this perfect.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 683.6, Fat 25.1, SaturatedFat 8.4, Cholesterol 184.2, Sodium 560.6, Carbohydrate 72, Fiber 3, Sugar 31.4, Protein 42.6