Cinnamon Chicken Breasts

Cinnamon chicken breast is a dish that blends sweet and spicy flavors, creating an interesting contrast that can pleasantly surprise the palate. Here’s how to prepare it, with an Italian touch that further enhances the dish:

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 glass of white wine (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by rinsing the chicken breasts well and drying them with paper towels.
2. In a bowl, mix together the salt, freshly ground black pepper, and ground cinnamon. Use this spice blend to season the chicken breasts on both sides.
3. In a non-stick pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and briefly sauté the crushed garlic cloves and the rosemary sprig to flavor the oil.
4. Remove the garlic and rosemary from the pan and lay the spiced chicken breasts in it. Sauté the chicken on both sides until a golden crust forms.
5. If you want to add an extra touch, deglaze the chicken with a glass of white wine, letting the alcohol evaporate over high heat for a few minutes.
6. Lower the heat, cover the pan, and let the chicken breasts cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. If the mixture dries out too much, add a little water or vegetable broth.
7. At the end of cooking, if desired, you can sprinkle some lemon juice over the chicken to add a note of freshness.
8. Let the chicken breasts rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Cinnamon is a spice highly appreciated in many cuisines around the world, capable of giving a sweet and warm aroma to various preparations. Although it is typically associated with sweets, in many cultures it is used for savory dishes, especially in Middle Eastern and North African cooking. In Italy, cinnamon is traditionally used to flavor sweet treats such as cookies or cappuccino, but it’s always interesting to experiment with it in savory dishes to discover new flavor contaminations.