Marinated Chicken with Greens
/Chicken
½ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, sliced
1 tsp. rosemary
¼ cup + 3 T. Balsamic vinegar
4 sage leaves, cut into thin strips
4 strips lemon zest, chopped
4 boneless chicken breast halves
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup chicken stock
1 T. butter
Wilted Greens
1 pkg. mixed lettuces
1 pkg. spinach
1 T. olive oil
1 T. minced garlic
Salt and Pepper
Directions: This is a multi-step dish. You will
1. Marinade the chicken
2. Cook the chicken
3. Make a sauce for serving
4. Make silted greens for side dish
Make marinade. In a container large enough to hold the chicken, stir together 2 T.
olive oil, garlic, shallots, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, rosemary, sage and lemon zest.
Season the mixture generously with pepper. Add the chicken breasts and turn them
in the marinade, making sure they are well coated on both sides. Cover and
refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight, turning the chicken once or twice.
Remove the chicken. Season with salt. Strain the marinade, extracting as much
liquid as possible. Reserve the solids and liquid separately.
Heat the remaining oil in a wide, deep sauté pan set over medium heat. Cook the
chicken breasts until nicely brown, about 6 minutes per side. Remove the chicken
and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Time to begin the sauce and the wilted greens.
Sauce: Add the reserved solids to the pan and cook, stirring for about 4 minutes.
Add the marinade liquid and the remaining 3 T. of vinegar, stirring to loosen any
food on the bottom of the pan, and cook until liquid evaporates. Add the chicken
stock, raise the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce liquid until it becomes richly
flavored and thickened to a sauce consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and season with
salt and pepper. Remove from heat and swirl in 1 T. butter. Strain the sauce through
a strainer and discard the solids.
Wilted greens: In a large pot, boil 1-2” water seasoned with salt and pepper. When
boiling, add greens, stirring constantly until wilted, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted
spoon, transfer greens to a wire rack, spreading the greens out in an even layer to
cool quickly. When cool enough to handle, gently squeeze out the excess water. Set
aside.
Place the olive oil and garlic in a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Cook, stirring
for 2 minutes. Add the greens. Stir and sauté for 1 minute or until heated through.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve chicken with greens.
Comment: Be prepared to multi-task.