Chicken Stuffed with Smoked Mozzarella

Ingredients

  • 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or onions
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 of a 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
  • 3 Tbsp. pine nuts or walnuts, toasted
  • 3/4 cup shredded smoked mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup seasoned fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil

Preparation

Step 1

Place 1 chicken breast half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat process with all chicken breasts.
For filling, in a medium skillet cook shallots or onions and garlic in the 2 tsp. hot oil until tender. Remove from heat; stir in spinach, nuts, and smoked mozzarella.
In a shallow bowl combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Fill each roll, using 2 to 3 Tbsp. of filling (fill center of chicken breast, fold in bottom and sides and then roll up, secure with toothpicks.)
Lightly brush each roll with the 1 Tbsp. olive oil; coat with bread crumb mixture. Place rolls, seam side down, in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degree F oven about 25 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Remove toothpicks before serving.