Ingredients
4chicken breasts,boneless, skinless
2tsppepper,divided
1tbsponion powder
4tspkosher salt, divided
1tbspgarlic powder
8ozbaby spinach
1cuptomato,sun-dried
2cupscanola oil
2cupspanko breadcrumbs
4largeeggs,beaten
1cupall purpose flour
3tbspunsalted butter
5clovesgarlic,minced
2mediumshallots,diced
2cupsbaby spinach
1½tbsptomato,sun-dried, chopped
¾cuptomato,diced
2cupsheavy cream
1tbspall purpose flour
1½tspkosher salt
1tsppepper
¾cupparmesan cheese,grated
1tbsplemon juice
4cupsspaghetti
4cupsgreen salad,lightly dressed
Preparation
Butterfly the chicken breasts and season on both sides with 1 teaspoon of pepper, the onion powder, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the garlic powder.
Place a chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or heavy pan until about ¼ inch thick.
Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap and place a handful of baby spinach over the center of the chicken breast, then cover with ¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes. Starting from the bottom, tightly roll the chicken, using the plastic wrap to help.
Wrap the chicken roll tightly in plastic wrap to secure. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Chill the chicken rolls in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot and cook until softened and the onions are beginning to caramelize and become very fragrant.
Stir in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and diced tomatoes and cook until the spinach is wilted. Add the heavy cream and flour and stir to incorporate. Add the salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese and cook until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
Heat 2–3 (5 – 7 cm) inches of oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat until it reaches 325 degrees F.
Add the panko to a shallow dish and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Add the eggs to a separate shallow dish. Add the flour to a third shallow dish and stir in the remaining teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
Remove the chicken rolls from the fridge and coat in the flour, then the eggs, then the bread crumbs.
Fry the breaded chicken rolls in the hot oil for about 5 minutes per side, or until the outside is an even golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
If a good color is achieved and the chicken’s center is still not to temperature, place the chicken on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and finish cooking in the oven at 325 degrees F until the proper temperature is reached.
Once the proper internal temperature is reached, place the rolls on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Slice the chicken rolls and serve over a bed of spaghetti with the béchamel sauce and a green salad alongside.
Enjoy!
