fontina and prosciutto stuffed chicken with spring vegetables

Chicken

Fontina & Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Layering fontina and prosciutto on top of butterflied chicken breasts then folding them closed gives you gooey cheesiness in every bite. A little half-and-half stirred into this one-pan dish at the end of cooking creates a creamy sauce to coat the chicken and veggies. Serve with rice and a glass of chardonnay.

Ingredients

½ cup shredded fontina cheese
¼ cup chopped prosciutto or ham
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon, plus more for garnish
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound total)
¼ teaspoon salt, divided
¼ teaspoon ground pepper, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
½ cup peas
2 spring onions or scallions, sliced
¼ cup half-and-half

Directions

Mix 1/2 cup cheese, 1/4 cup prosciutto (or ham) and 1 teaspoon tarragon in a small bowl.
To stuff 2 chicken breasts, cut a horizontal slit along the thin, long edge, nearly through to the opposite side. Open up each breast and place half the filling in the center. Close the breast over the filling, pressing the edges firmly together to seal. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper, then lightly coat with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, shaking off any excess.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, flipping once, until browned, about 6 minutes total. Add 1 cup broth, reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook, flipping once halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, about 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
Add 1 pound asparagus, 1/2 cup peas, 2 spring onions (or scallions) and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the pan. Return to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is bright green and just tender and the liquid reduces slightly, about 4 minutes.
Whisk 1/4 cup half-and-half and the remaining 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to the pan and cook, stirring gently, until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Return the chicken to the pan and turn to coat with the sauce. Slice the chicken and serve with the vegetables and sauce, garnished with more tarragon, if desired.