Chicken Cyril With a Tomato Basil Sauce

Submitted by currybunny

"Italian seasoned chicken cooked in phyllo pastry with spinach, cashews and mozzarella, served with a light tomato basil sauce.... I just couldn't think what to call it, asked DH, and he said "Cyril". (It was 37 degrees and very humid, so this actually struck him as funny.) Hope you try it and enjoy!"

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 18
• Serves: 2

ingredients

• CHICKEN CYRIL

• 2 skinless chicken breast halves
• 1⁄3 cup chopped cashews
• 1 cup baby spinach leaves, firmly packed
• 4 phyllo pastry sheets
• 1⁄3 cup shredded lite mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup seasoned dry bread crumb
• 2 teaspoons italian seasoning, divided
• 60 g butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• TOMATO BASIL SAUCE

• 1 (400 g) can diced tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup white wine
• 1⁄4 cup basil leaves, firmly packed
• 1⁄3 cup light cream
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons garlic flakes
• salt and pepper, to taste

directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C / 375°F
2. Mix seasoned breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning in a shallow bowl; dip chicken into beaten egg, then into breadcrumb mixture, thoroughly coating
3. Heat olive oil in frying pan; cook chicken, around 7 -10 minutes depending on breast thickness; set aside on paper towel
4. Return pan to heat; lightly toast chopped cashews and toss through spinach til wilted; put cashew-spinach mix in a bowl and stir through mozzarella
5. Mix melted butter and minced garlic together
6. Spread out two sheets of phyllo on top of each other, brush with melted butter, fold in half
7. Now place one of the chicken breast halves on phyllo, top with half cashew-spinach-cheese mixture, roll up to form a parcel, brush with butter mixture again
8. Place in greased oven tray; repeat with other breast half, cook in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes or til browned
9. Meanwhile, make the tomato-basil sauce: In same pan (no need to clean!), pour diced tomatoes, white wine, garlic and seasoning, bring to the boil then simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
10. Stir though cream and shredded basil leaves and heat through for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper as desired
11. Serve over phyllo chicken with a side of veggies!

Reviews

[HeatherN]

This was a very nice meal with an interesting combination of flavors. I made it exactly as directed. Next time though, I will pound the chicken flat and cut it into smaller pieces. Because I took the chicken straight out of the pkg and cooked it, the finished entrees were HUGE. Didn't leave much room for side dishes. Other than that, very elegant recipe, definitely one to impress company!

 

[drewitta]

Loved it! Was incredibly easy to prepare and even easier to eat. The flavours of the chicken, white wine, garlic and tomoatoes worked together beautifully. At first i wondered if the tomato sauce would soggy up the phyllo pastry but it didn't corrupt the texture and added so much to the flavour. I recommend this recipe for everyone - even if the name is a bit weird (although it did make me laugh). Eugene McCracken, Melbourne, Australia