Chicken with Walnuts

Chicken with walnuts is a dish that blends rustic and delicate flavors thanks to the use of walnuts, which provide a crunchy texture and a rich taste. An Italian twist might be the use of a good extra virgin olive oil and perhaps a touch of aromatic herbs like rosemary. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 200 g of shelled walnuts
• 1 sprig of rosemary (Italian variation)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 100 ml of chicken or vegetable broth
• 50 ml of white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Finely chop the walnuts with a knife or a blender, leaving some whole for the garnish of the dish.
2. In a pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic cloves together with the rosemary to flavor the oil.
3. Remove the garlic and rosemary; add the chicken breasts and cook them on both sides until golden brown.
4. Deglaze with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
5. Add the chopped walnuts, stirring to coat the chicken breasts well.
6. Pour the broth in a bit at a time, allowing the chicken to cook and the walnuts to create a sort of cream.
7. Adjust with salt and pepper and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reached the desired consistency.
8. Serve the chicken breasts hot, garnishing with the whole walnuts set aside and a sprig of rosemary for a touch of freshness and color.

For a richer option, you can also enrich the dish with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan just before serving, which will slightly melt with the warmth of the chicken and sauce.

Curiosity

Chicken with walnuts is a dish that lends itself well to variations, for example, you might find it in a Persian version, called “Fesenjan,” where pomegranate molasses is added to the chicken and walnuts, creating a dish with a very particular sweet and sour taste.