Chicken Breast alla Pizzaiola

Chicken breast alla pizzaiola is a variant of the more known meat alla pizzaiola dish. The tasty sauce inspired by pizza flavors transforms the chicken into an extremely delicious dish. Here are the ingredients and the preparation:

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 400 g of peeled tomatoes or tomato puree
• 2 garlic cloves
• Oregano to taste
• A few basil leaves
• 100 g of mozzarella
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Black olives (optional)
• Capers (if you like, optional)

Preparation

1. Start by heating the oil in a pan and sauté the whole garlic cloves to flavor the oil. Remove them as soon as they are golden brown.
2. In the meantime, make superficial cuts on the chicken breasts to allow better absorption of the flavors.
3. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and brown them on both sides. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the peeled tomatoes, crushing them with a fork or the tomato puree, sprinkle with oregano, and add the hand-torn basil leaves. If you wish, you can also add black olives and capers to enhance the flavor.
5. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes, checking often and turning the chicken breasts if necessary, until they are well cooked and the sauce has thickened and reduced.
6. Slice the mozzarella and spread it over the chicken breasts.
7. Place a lid on the pan and allow the mozzarella to melt over low heat, it will only take a couple of minutes.
8. Serve your chicken breast alla pizzaiola immediately!

If you want to add a more Italian touch, you might pair the dish with a good glass of light red wine, like a Valpolicella.

Curiosity

Although the term “pizzaiola” suggests a preparation typical of Naples, it actually does not have a precise geographical origin. It is simply a way to indicate a type of seasoning rich in tomato, garlic, oregano, and mozzarella, which recalls the flavors of pizza.