Pesto-Crusted Chicken with Parmesan Broccoli Tots

By ltrodrigu

Ingredients

• 1 Broccoli Crown
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 2 ounces
• 1/2 cup Egg, scrambled and separated
• 1/4 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
• 2 ounces Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 tablespoons
• Basil Pesto
• 2 ounces Marinara Sauce
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Police oil cooking spray

Details

Servings 2

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a medium pot with 4 cups lightly salted water to a boil.

Steam Broccoli:
Cut broccoli into large bite-sized pieces. Add broccoli and one garlic clove (reserve other clove for sauce) to boiling water in steamer in microwave oven and cook until broccoli is bright green and very tender, 4-6 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander and return to pot. While broccoli steams, mince remaining garlic.

Make Broccoli Tots:
Mash broccoli until mostly smooth. Continue mashing, while adding egg 1 tablespoon at a time. This prevents egg from scrambling on hot broccoli. Set aside 2 tablespoon panko and reserve. Stir remaining panko and Parmesan into broccoli. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Using a tablespoon measure, place scoops of broccoli mix onto prepared baking sheet. Mix should make around 20-25 tots. Wipe pot clean and reserve.

Roast Broccoli Tots:
Roast until broccoli tots firm and browned on bottoms and edges, 23-25 minutes. After tots have roasted 10 minutes, cook chicken.

Sear Chicken:
After tots have roasted 10 minutes, pat chicken dry, and season with ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil and chicken to hot pan. Cook undisturbed until browned, 2-3 minutes. Flip chicken, remove pan from burner, and top with pesto.

Heat Sauce:
Top chicken with reserved panko. Cook until crust has browned and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees, 6-8 minutes. While chicken , add top with sauce, ¼ cup water, and remaining garlic to pot used for broccoli and place over medium heat. Cook until sauce is starting to bubble, 1-2 minutes. Remove from burner.

Finish Dish:
Place chicken on a plate and set broccoli tots next to chicken. Serve sauce on the side.