Ingredients

  • 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 slices prosciutto, 1/8-inch thick, halved
  • Filling
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 lb spinach, trimmed
  • 3 shallots, minced
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup pesto sauce
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • For basting chicken
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 lb mushroom, sliced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 3/4 cup white wine
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast pine nuts 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Reserve.
  • Put washed spinach in skillet, cover. Steam about 2 minutes. Place in strainer, rinse with cold water and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Chop medium fine.
  • Heat butter in skillet, saute shallots until soft.
  • Increase oven to 375 degrees.
  • Butter a shallow baking dish.
  • Mix pine nuts, spinach, shallots, ricotta cheese, egg yolk and pepper.
  • Pound chicken breasts slightly.
  • Place 1/.2 slice prosciutto on each breast, followed by 1/6 of filling. Fold in half. Place in buttered baking dish.
  • Mix melted butter and lemon juice. Spoon over chicken breasts. Bake, basting occassionally, for 30 minutes (or until tender). Remove to platter and keep warm.
  • Make sauce: Melt butter in skillet, saute mushrooms 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms.
  • Add stock to skillet, boil until rediced to 1/4 cup. Add wine, boil until reduced to 1/2 cup. Add cream, boil until reduced to 3/4 cup.
  • Return mushrooms to sauce.
  • Add whatever juices have accumulated in chicken dish to sauce. Bring to boil, stirring. Add basil.
  • Serve chicken breasts on platter. Pass sauce separately.