
If there are children around there’s nearly always a half-used tub of pesto. Too expensive to go to waste, and a good reason we’re always on the lookout for anything other than pesto pasta. This dish is a bit of summer in winter.
Wine Suggestion: Choose a fun and fresh red, preferably with a moderate alcohol. Fortunately we had a red blend from the Sebestyén family in the Szekszárd region of south-eastern Hungary. Their Szekszárdi Cuvée is a delightful blend of Kékfrankos, Merlot and Cabernet Franc; youthful, fresh and characterful.
Chicken with mozzarella, Parma ham and roast pesto potatoes, serves 4
- 125g ball of mozzarella cheese (not buffalo), sliced
- 4 chicken breasts
- 24 basil leaves
- 4 slices of Parma ham
- 24 cherry tomatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 450g baby potatoes
- 3 tbsp pesto
- 2 tbsp thick balsamic vinegar
Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5.
Grease a baking sheet.
Season the mozzarella slices with salt and pepper.
Slice a small pocket in each chicken breast (we asked our butcher to do this) and fill with a slice of mozzarella and 6 basil leaves. Wrap each piece of chicken in a slice of Parma ham and set onto the greased baking sheet. Scatter the tomatoes around the chicken.
Drizzle everything with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then roast for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Meanwhile, boil the potatoes until cooked through, about 20 minutes, then drain and toss with the pesto.
Put the chicken, potatoes and tomatoes onto warm plates and drizzle the tomatoes with the thick balsmic vinegar.
(Original recipe from Herbs by Judith Hann, Watkins Media Ltd, 2017.)