Tomato & Basil Chicken with Mozzarella
Serves: 4
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 brown onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 x 425g cans chopped tomatoes or one chopped and one cherry tomatoes
1 x 140gram container of tomato paste
1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves
Salt and Pepper
1 tablespoon butter or oil (extra)
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, halved longways
Topping
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/4cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons butter melted
180grams mozzarella cut into strips
Fresh basil leaves or sprinkling of dried
Method
Heat the oven to 180’C
Melt the butter or the oil in the fry pan and cook the onion and garlic until soft.
Add the remaining sauce ingredients excepting the extra butter or oil and chicken.
Simmer for about 10 minutes
While the sauce is simmering, melt the extra butter or oil in another fry pan and brown the chicken on both sides.
Place the chicken into baking dish and pour sauce over the top.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes
While chicken is baking prepare the topping by mixing all the ingredients except the cheese in a bowl.
Remove the chicken after the 15 minutes in the oven and put strips of cheese and a basil leaf over each breast.
Sprinkle over the breadcrumb mixture.
Put back in the oven for further 10 minutes until the top is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
Serve with rice and a seasonal green vegetable like beans or broccoli.
Optional:
Whole chicken breasts can be used for a more substantial serve-increase the first cook time by 10 minutes.
Black olives make an interesting addition to the dish. Stir them through the sauce just before you pour it over the chicken in the baking dish.
