Turn chicken dish into something special
ONE-PAN FARE: Rosemary and coconut sauce transforms everyday meal into something quite delicious
You, the cook, will not have to tell anyone when this simple one-pan dish is ready.
They will be compelled by its lovely aromas as you add the shallot, garlic and fresh rosemary to a hot skillet gilded with bits of just-seared chicken.
In 10 minutes’ time, broth and coconut milk will cook down to a sauce creamier than you can imagine, and create perhaps more than is necessary to coat the chicken breasts you return to the pan.
No matter; you may want to mop up that herby, softly chunky sauce with crusty bread or swirl a starchy side into it or just slurp it with a spoon.
And just when your dinner companion can’t bear another moment of waiting, a finishing sprinkle of fresh rosemary will hit the chicken and waft anew the invitation to come and get it.
The simple pan-sauce technique used in this recipe can be tweaked and applied to other meats and proteins cooked in a single skillet.
Canned coconut milk and its fat add richness here, but its flavour is not pronounced.
Serve with sautéed carrots.
Lemon Rosemary Chicken Skillet
Adapted from The Everything Healthy Meal Prep Book by Tina Chow (Adams Media, 2018).
Serves: 2
1 large shallot
Leaves from 1 or 2 stems fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic
Two 6-oz (170-g) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (no tenderloins attached)
1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) kosher salt, or more as needed
1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) freshly ground black pepper, or more as needed
2 tbsp (30 mL) vegetable or grapeseed oil
1 cup (250 mL) chicken broth, preferably no salt added
2/3 cup (160 mL) coconut milk 1/2 lemon
Finely chop the shallot (to yield at least 1/4 cup/60 mL). Mince the rosemary leaves (to yield at least 1 tablespoon/15 mL) and the garlic.
If your chicken breast halves are of uneven thickness, place plastic wrap over them on a cutting board and use a rolling pin or mallet to pound them into an even thickness of about 3/4 inch (2 cm). Season on both sides with half the salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned in spots. Transfer to a plate.
Add the shallot to the pan; cook for about 2 minutes, so it softens, then stir in the garlic and 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of the rosemary, the broth, coconut milk and the remaining salt and pepper.
Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should reduce, to form a thickened sauce.
Squeeze the juice of the lemon half (about 2 tablespoons/30 mL) into the sauce, then return the chicken to the pan, turning to coat it evenly.
Cook for a minute or two, to make sure the chicken is cooked through and warm. Taste, and add more salt and/or pepper, as needed.
Sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of rosemary over each portion and serve hot.