Wow your sweetie by making this decadent dinner for Valentine's Day. Brining the breasts before cooking helps the chicken retain moisture.
Chicken Breasts with Brandied Cherry-Chocolate Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1/4 cup salt plus 2 tablespoons
- 4 cups water
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- 1/3 cup good-quality balsamic vinegar
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons brandy
Instructions
- Mix salt into water in a large bowl or zip-top plastic bag until dissolved. Add chicken and allow to brine for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Remove breasts from brine, rinse with water, and pat dry with paper towels.
- Preheat oven to 200°. Pour flour onto a plate or pie pan and roll each breast in flour, patting gently to lightly coat.
- Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a heavy 12-inch skillet. Swirl to mix, and cook until butter begins to color. Lay breasts in pan and cook, undisturbed, until brown, about 5 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and cook on second side, undisturbed, until juices begin to clot around pieces, 5–7 minutes. Remove chicken and keep warm in the oven while making sauce.
- Add chicken broth to skillet, scraping to release any brown bits. Boil until reduced to 1 cup, 8–10 minutes. Add cherries and vinegar; boil until spoon scraped across pan bottom leaves a visible path in sauce, 8–10 minutes. Stir in chocolate and add brandy. Spoon over chicken breasts and serve.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Breasts with Brandied Cherry-Chocolate Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 384
% Daily Value*
Cholesterol 85mg
28%
Sodium 499mg
21%
Total Carbohydrates 24g
8%
Dietary Fiber 2g
8%
Protein 31g
62%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
PER SERVING: 384 cal, 40% fat cal, 16g fat, 7g sat fat, 85mg chol, 31g protein, 24g carb, 2g fiber, 499mg sodium
