Chicken is so versatile and flavour neutral, so what we make with it can sometimes become a little repetitive. I wanted to shake things up a little for dinner tonight and put in a little more effort than simple roasted chicken breasts. I like the fact that my Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken and Asparagus look impressive enough to serve at a dinner party, but require very little preparation. You could even assemble the wrapped breasts before hand, cover and refrigerate them for the day, until you are ready to get cooking!
This recipe is a great example of good flavours working. Prosciutto, pesto, parmesan and chicken are a classic combination and work really well together. The addition of the asparagus into the mix helps provide texture, colour and an earthy flavour that helps balance out the rich prosciutto. It also really adds to the visual interest of this recipe once sliced on a bias and served. For this recipe there is no need for any additional salt; the prosciutto, pesto and parmesan cheese provide more than enough, and all you need to add is the freshly ground black pepper.
Wrapping ingredients in fat – in this case the prosciutto – really helps add flavour and texture. It also serves to keep the chicken and asparagus wrapped tightly together, while basting everything to help keep it nice and moist during roasting. This is a great technique I use often on turkey, pork, lean cuts of beef, game meats and some seafood as well.
Because the overall dish is rather rich, I recommend serving it with some simple steamed vegetables, rice, pasta or couscous to help lighten the meal. If this isn’t your cup of tea and you are looking for more great recipes using chicken, there are just over 100 of them on compliments.ca, along with some other great side dish ideas as well. You should take a peek!
Prosciutto wrapped Chicken and Asparagus
Makes 4 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
pepper to taste
8 slices prosciutto
1 bunch young green asparagus, washed and trimmed
¼ cup (63 mL) Compliments Pesto Sauce
2 tbsp (30 mL) freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tsp (10 mL) Compliments Pure Olive Oil
- Pre-heat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a roasting pan with parchment paper.
- Split each chicken breast in half through the middle so you have four equal sized portion and set aside. Lay two slices of prosciutto side by side slightly overlapping, set a portion of chicken on the prosciutto, season lightly with pepper, spread 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the pesto over the chicken, sprinkle with ¼ of the grated parmesan and set five asparagus spears on the chicken. Wrap the Prosciutto around the chicken and asparagus tightly, with the seam on the bottom. Repeat with the remaining prosciutto, chicken and asparagus.
- Heat the olive oil in an oven safe sauté pan over fairly high heat, sear the wrapped chicken on both sides until golden brown. Transfer to the oven and bake for approximately 15-18 minutes and they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Let rest for five minutes and serve with your favourite side dish.
Happy Cooking!
Chef Ryan Skelton
Nutritional Analysis per Serving:
Energy: 270 (kcal)
Protein: 36 g
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Fibre: 2 g
Sodium: 1010 mg
