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Baked Goat Cheese Chicken Pockets

17/11/2023

I can offer you an Italian version of the baked goat cheese chicken pockets. It’s a simple but delicious dish, where the bold flavor of goat cheese perfectly complements the chicken meat. Here are the ingredients and preparation for 4 people.

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 150 g of goat cheese (you can use the soft variety or a more aged one, according to your preference)
  • 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 sprig of rosemary (optional)
  • Lemon juice (for marinating the chicken, if desired)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. If you like, marinate the chicken breasts with some lemon juice, salt and pepper for about 15-30 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, in a bowl, mix the goat cheese with the chopped chives, a pinch of salt and pepper, and the pressed garlic clove.
  4. Make a horizontal incision in each chicken breast to form a pocket, being careful not to cut all the way through.
  5. Stuff the pockets with the goat cheese and chive mixture.
  6. Close the pockets with toothpicks to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
  7. Place the stuffed chicken breasts in a lightly oiled baking dish, then drizzle oil over the chicken breasts and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. If you wish, you can add a sprig of rosemary to the dish for additional flavoring.
  9. Bake the chicken breasts for about 20-25 minutes or until the meat is cooked through and golden brown on the outside.

I always check the internal cooking of the chicken by using a food thermometer; the safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 74 °C.

Curiosity

In Italy, the use of cheeses in main courses is very common, and goat cheese is particularly suitable due to its fresh and slightly tangy notes, which can counterbalance the sweetness of the chicken. Moreover, chives are a touch of freshness and color that tie in well with Mediterranean recipes.

This dish can be accompanied by a nice fresh salad or some roasted vegetables to complete the meal. Enjoy your meal!