Chicken With Olive Tapenade Recipes

Steps:

• Place the first 8 ingredients in a food processor; pulse until tomatoes and olives are coarsely chopped. Cut a pocket horizontally in the thickest part of each chicken breast. Fill with olive mixture; secure with toothpicks., Lightly coat grill rack with cooking oil. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 8-10 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in stuffing reads 165°. Sprinkle with cheese. Discard toothpicks before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season the inside cavity with salt. Arrange the chicken, breast side up, in a roasting pan with a rack. Zest the lemon and set aside. Cut the zested lemon in half and put it inside the cavity of the bird along with the thyme, and extra olives. Truss the chicken by evenly looping your butcher's twine under the wing and come around the legs. Pull the ends and tie at the top pulling the legs together and tucking in the wings. Season with salt and rub the 2 tablespoons canola oil on the outside of the chicken. Roast in the oven for 55 to 65 minutes, depending on your oven. The juices from the thickest part of the thigh should run clear (meaning not pink from blood) and register between 155 and 160 degrees F when tested with an instant-read thermometer. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest.
• Meanwhile, put the shallots and the green and black olives in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, 30 to 45 seconds. Add the whiskey and with the machine running, pour in 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a slow stream. Note: add more oil, if needed, and pulse to blend. Taste for seasoning and set aside.
• Put the chicken, breast side up, on a cutting board. Cut the butcher's twine then cut down the length of the breastbone, on either side, and detach the light meat. Cut around each thigh and detach them as well. Arrange on a platter. Drizzle any run off juices onto the chicken. In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, lemon zest and a sprinkle of sea salt. Spread some of the soft butter on the light and dark meat, keeping the chicken, skin side up, on the serving platter. Top with some of the tapanade and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Make the tapenade: In the bowl of a food processor, place olives, anchovy, garlic, capers, parsley, orange zest, lemon zest, red-pepper flakes and olive oil. Pulse several times to make a rough paste, then scrape down sides of the bowl and purée for about 30 seconds more. Alternatively, use a knife to finely chop ingredients, transfer them to a bowl and stir in the olive oil. You should have about 1 cup of tapenade, more than you need for this recipe. (Refrigerate the remainder for up to 2 weeks.)
• Prepare the chicken: Working one at a time, lay chicken breast on a sturdy cutting board. With a sharp, thin-bladed knife, cut breast horizontally in half, almost, but not completely. Open the breast like a book; it will be a heart-shaped piece of meat. Lay the breast between two resealable plastic bags and lightly pound the breast to 3/8- to 1/2-inch thickness. Don't pound too hard, or the meat may tear. When all breasts are ready, transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet in one layer.
• Season each breast on both sides with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Sprinkle with chopped thyme, and rub seasoning into meat, coating evenly with oil. Scatter thyme sprigs and lemon zest strips over. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Set oven to 400 degrees. Put a large skillet over medium-high heat, and lightly coat bottom with olive oil. When oil is hot, lay two chicken breasts top-side down in skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Turn over and cook 1 minute more. Transfer breasts to a clean baking sheet, browned-side up. Repeat with the other breasts.
• Bake, uncovered, for 5 minutes, until firm to the touch. Remove from oven, keep warm and let rest 5 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and lemon zest strips.
• Put arugula in a bowl, and dress very lightly with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place a handful of dressed greens on each of four plates. Place cooked paillards alongside. Smear 1 tablespoon tapenade across the surface of each breast. With a vegetable peeler, shave some cheese over arugula. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.