Crispy and Delicious Blog

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken cordon bleu as a dish unto itself  first appeared on restaurant menus in the United States in the early 1960s. According to the Food Time Line website, it is clearly an American recipe innovation. This specific combination and name did not originate in Europe. It was considered a trendy dish at the time and served at fashionable, high-class restaurants.

There are many regional dishes from Europe that share characteristics with Chicken Cordon Bleu. Some of the countries that include roulades, or roll ups of meat, in their cuisine are Germany, France and Italy. Almost all of them are based on veal or chicken wrapped around stuffing, another meat, cheese or a combination of any of these. Many of them are then breaded and fried. The names and recipes vary widely, but their connection to the dish is apparent.

In its simplest form, Chicken Cordon Bleu is a tasty combination of chicken, ham and swiss cheese, rolled together and usually fried. This recipe also includes a creamy wine sauce to accompany the chicken.

Ingredients:

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 slices Swiss cheese
6 slices ham
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup heavy whipping cream
chopped basil, for garnish (optional)

Preparation:

1. Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness. Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 inch of the edges. Fold the edges of the chicken over the filling, and secure with toothpicks. Mix the flour and paprika in a small bowl, and coat the chicken pieces.

2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the chicken until browned on all sides. Add the wine of broth and bouillon. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

3. Remove the toothpicks, and transfer the breasts to a warm platter. Blend the cornstarch with the cream in a small bowl, and whisk slowly into the skillet. Cook, stirring until thickened, and pour over the chicken. Serve warm.

0 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.