Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Lemon White Wine Sauce

Directions

To make the stuffing:

In a medium bowl, combine the swiss and ricotta cheese, chopped spinach and bacon. Mix well, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

To make the sauce:

Add the wine and stock to the small saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce until it reaches a sauce like consistency.

If you are having trouble reaching a sauce-like consistency add the cornstarch disolved in water to help create a thicker sauce.

Whisk in the lemon juice, mustard and season with salt. Set aside.

To make the chicken:

Pound each of the chicken breasts between two layers of plastic wrap to about ¼ of and inch thick.

Place about ¼ of the prepared stuffing along the center of each breast. Fold the two edges to the center and then fold the bottom rolling forward to form a tight bundle. Secure with toothpicks.

You may find it easier to keep the stuffing inside the chicken by tying it with butchers string.

Season each breast with salt and pepper.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat to medium high heat. Make sure the pan is well preheated.

Lay the breasts into the pan (lay away from you to prevent splashing).

Brown the chicken breasts evenly on all sides. This will take about two minutes per side.

Reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 5 minutes until the chicken is just cooked through. If you have an instant read thermometer the internal temperature should reach 160 to 165 degrees F.

Transfer to a plate and cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. The internal temperature will continue to rise to 165 degrees F.

Meanwhile, add the sauce to the skillet, heat and scrape up all the brown bits left in the skillet. Use a wooden spoon to avoid scratching the non-stick pan.

To serve:

Slice the chicken into medallions, arrange on four plates. Spoon the sauce over the sliced chicken, garnish as desired and serve immediately with steamed veggies.

This is a great dish to make to impress company. The breasts can be stuffed in advance and held in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them.

Notes:

The sauce can be very lemony, you don't need much. Any remaining sauce is great to drizzle over any accompanying vegetables.

This recipe makes a lot of stuffing, try not to over-stuff the breasts or use large sized chicken breasts.

You could also substitute chopped sun-dried tomatoes instead of the bacon. It also works well if you substitute the swiss cheese with feta cheese (especially with the sun-dried tomatoes).