Fondue Dippers: Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Spinach, Blanched Vegetables and Apples (Rachael Ray) |
|
 |
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes |
Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 6 |
|
Ingredients:
1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach |
extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling |
6 slices good quality smoky bacon, halved across (recommended: oscars from warrensburg) |
12 chicken tenders |
salt and freshly ground black pepper |
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning |
1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika |
1 bunch radishes, trimmed |
1 large red pepper, seeded and sliced 1/2-inch thick sticks |
1 bundle white or thin green asparagus, trimmed |
1 sack purple pearl onions or 1 jar pickled pearl onions, drained |
1 jar mini gherkins, drained |
1 bag pretzel rods |
whole-grain or seeded bread, diced for dipping |
fondue with apple brandy, recipe follows |
1 3/4 cups dry white wine |
1 tablespoon lemon juice |
3/4 pound gruyere, shredded |
3/4 pound emmentaler, shredded |
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch |
1/3 cup apple brandy |
freshly grated nutmeg, to taste |
pinch cayenne pepper |
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Defrost spinach in microwave.
3. Drizzle a little oil on large plate and have a rack sitting on baking a sheet or slotted broiler pan nearby. Halve the bacon across and reserve on a meat-safe prep board. Halve the chicken tenders and slide into the dish with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and paprika. Wring out the spinach in a clean dish towel and put the spinach in a small dish. Top each piece of chicken with a little spinach and wrap with bacon. Arrange, seem side down, on the baking pan. Bake until golden and firm, 18 to 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, bring a few inches of salted water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Have a large bowl of ice water, for shocking the vegetables, ready as well. Add the radishes to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute, then remove them and shock in ice water. Repeat with the pepper removing them with tongs or small strainer or spider. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 to 3 minutes, then shock and reserve.
5. If using fresh onions, add last and cook for 3 minutes to loosen skins. Shock them and use a towel to wipe away the skins.
6. Arrange the meat, vegetables and pretzels around a fondue pot and serve with cubed bread in a basket.
7. Fondue with Apple Brandy:
8. Put the wine in a fondue pot and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the lemon juice, then add the cheeses in handfuls, stirring in a figure-8 motion with wooden spoon. When the cheese is fully melted, stir the cornstarch into the brandy, in a small bowl until smooth, then add to cheese. Season with nutmeg and cayenne and serve over a warming station for your fondue pot.
9. Yield: 6 servings
|
|