Spring Chicken Roll-Ups

I used to really love Rachael Ray. I used to watch her show, think how easy and good things looked, and promptly make some pasta or order take-out. Lately, although I’m capable of making pretty much anything on 30 Minute Meals, I have a difficult time watching her show because I find her so incredibly annoying. However, I do watch occasionally, and often see some really easy and good recipes.

This is one of them. It’s incredibly easy and packs a lot of flavor. I’d tried stuffed chicken before without much luck, but pounding the chicken really thin keeps the cooking time low and potential for success high. I used thin cutlets because they were on sale, and I still had to pound them a little.

I did have a bit of trouble with the pan sauce. I’m just not good at making gravies or pan sauces…but I attempted this one and the flavor was still good.

This is definitely something I’ll make again!

Spring Chicken Roll-Ups with Lemon Dijon Pan Sauce

adapted slightly from Food Network

Ingredients

• 2 (6-ounce) pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 thin slices provolone cheese
• 4 thin slices prosciutto cotto (I used baked Virginia ham)
• 12 thin spears asparagus, trimmed of tough stems and blanched in salted water 2 minutes, drained
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup chopped, flat-leaf parsley, a handful

Cook’s Note: Some markets sell “thin cut” chicken for a premium price. With a sharp knife, cutting the chicken breast yourself is easy. When chicken is on sale, stock up. Plastic storage bags can be stacked and frozen. Each portion will thaw in minutes and ready to use for dinner any night of the week. Plus, by halving and pounding out the breast meat, you’re stretching your dollar and the meat to provide twice as many portions.

Halve the chicken breasts horizontally separating each into 2 cutlets.

Place each halved cutlet in an individual freezer plastic storage bag (with slider tab). Add a tablespoon of water to each bag and pound into1/8-inch thick cutlets.

Arrange the 4 cutlets on work surface. Season cutlets with salt and pepper on the side facing up. Cover each piece of chicken with 1 slice cheese and 1 slice ham. Starting on 1 side of the breast, place a small bundle of 3 asparagus spears. Wrap and roll the chicken around the asparagus. Wash hands.

Heat about 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan, in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. When hot, using tongs, add the chicken roll-ups to skillet with seam side down. Season the roll-ups with salt and pepper. Cover the pan loosely with tin foil and cook 4 to 5 minutes, turn roll-ups over and cook and other 4 to 5 minutes. Remove cooked roll ups to a serving plate. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons flour Stir in the chicken stock and Dijon mustard, scraping up any drippings from the bottom of the pan, and simmer 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the lemon zest, lemon juice and parsley and spoon over chicken.