Apple & Fontina Stuffed Chicken with Walnuts, Bacon, and Frisée is an exquisite culinary masterpiece, perfect for showcasing your culinary prowess to guests or indulging in a gourmet meal at home. This recipe, handed down from a talented executive chef, promises a delightful dining experience, particularly during the vibrant summer season. With a marinating time of six hours, it’s essential to plan ahead, ensuring the flavors meld perfectly to create a symphony of taste.
To embark on this culinary adventure, gather your ingredients: Fuji apples, Fontina cheese, pineapple sage, sage, boneless chicken breasts, extra virgin olive oil, fresh tarragon, fresh thyme, thick slab bacon, red onion, green beans, frisée, walnuts, Dijon mustard, shallot, sherry wine vinegar, cider vinegar, walnut oil, and chives.
Begin your culinary journey by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven heats, soak six wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes, ensuring they are ready for assembly later.
Prepare the flavorful stuffing by combining the diced Fuji apples, grated Fontina cheese, and finely chopped pineapple sage. Lay the chicken breasts on a clean work surface, skin side down, and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon approximately 1/4 cup of the apple and cheese mixture onto each chicken breast, then fold lengthwise and seal securely with a skewer. Repeat this process for the remaining chicken breasts, ensuring each is generously stuffed and secured.
Next, in a shallow dish, create a marinade by combining extra virgin olive oil with freshly chopped tarragon and thyme. Add the stuffed chicken breasts to the dish, ensuring they are well-coated with the flavorful herb-infused oil. Cover the dish and refrigerate, allowing the chicken to marinate for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours, allowing the flavors to infuse and enhance the dish’s overall taste profile.
While the chicken marinates, prepare the vinaigrette by whisking together Dijon mustard, minced shallot, sherry wine vinegar, and cider vinegar in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in walnut oil and extra virgin olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified. Season the vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors.
As the chicken marinates, prepare to elevate the dish further by preparing the accompanying components. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the marinated chicken breasts, allowing them to brown on all sides for approximately 3 minutes per side. Once beautifully browned, transfer the chicken breasts to a roasting pan and bake in the preheated oven until just cooked through, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the same sauté pan used for browning the chicken, discard any excess fat and deglaze the pan with chicken stock, ensuring to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom. Add diced thick slab bacon, finely chopped red onion, and trimmed green beans to the pan, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Allow the ingredients to simmer and meld together, creating a tantalizing flavor base for the dish.
In a separate bowl, toss together fresh frisée, toasted walnuts, and the prepared vinaigrette, ensuring the salad is well-coated with the flavorful dressing. Combine the tossed frisée mixture with the reserved stuffing, creating a vibrant and texturally diverse salad base.
To assemble the dish, divide the dressed frisée mixture between six plates, creating a bed for the beautifully cooked chicken breasts. Remove the skewers from the chicken breasts and carefully slice each breast in half on the bias, ensuring to showcase the flavorful stuffing within. Arrange the sliced chicken breasts atop the dressed frisée mixture, garnishing each plate with a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives for a burst of color and flavor.
With its harmonious blend of flavors and textures, Apple & Fontina Stuffed Chicken with Walnuts, Bacon, and Frisée is a true culinary delight that will leave your guests impressed and your taste buds longing for more. Paired with your favorite Chardonnay, this dish promises to elevate any dining experience, making it perfect for both special occasions and intimate gatherings alike. Enjoy the culinary journey and savor every delectable bite of this sensational dish!
