Baked Chicken Breast

Here is a simple recipe for preparing baked chicken breast with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 lemon (juice and zest)
• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Meanwhile, wash the chicken breasts and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
3. Take a bowl and mix inside the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, chopped garlic, crumbled rosemary, salt, and pepper.
4. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish lined with parchment paper and pour the just prepared marinade on top, making sure it is well distributed on both sides of the chicken.
5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and fully cooked inside. Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
6. At the end of cooking, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Baked chicken breast is a very versatile dish that can be enriched with various herbs or spices to create different flavors each time. The touch of lemon in the marinade not only adds a fresh note to the dish but also helps to keep the meat tender during cooking. One way to ensure that the chicken stays juicy is to use a kitchen thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 74°C, at which point the chicken is cooked without being dry.

If you like to experiment, you can try adding some mustard or honey to the marinade for a sweet and sour variation, or chopped olives and capers for a Mediterranean touch.