I've seen a similar treatment made with Georgian pesto, a paste of cilantro, walnuts, oil and etc.
Pesto-Rubbed Chicken with Panzanella
Pesto genovese adds herbal brightness to this grilled chicken served over a toasted bread salad, but any flavor pesto will work. This recipe first appeared in SAVEUR Issue #140 along with Laura Schenone's story Glorious Pesto.
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Credit: Todd Coleman
INGREDIENTS
1 3- to 4-lb. chicken, cut into 6 pieces3/4 cup Genovese pesto
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1-lb. loaf country-style white bread, cut into 1 1/2″ slices
1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 red bell pepper
2 cups packed baby arugula
1/2 cup oil-cured black olives
1/4 cup roughly chopped parsley
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using your fingers, loosen skin from meat on chicken and spread 1/2 cup pesto in between skin and meat. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.2. Make the panzanella: Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high. (Alternatively, arrange an oven rack 4″ from broiler element and heat broiler to high.) Brush bread slices with oil and toss tomatoes and bell pepper with 2 tbsp. oil; season all with salt and pepper. Place bread and vegetables on grill and cook, turning as needed, until bread is toasted and tomatoes begin to burst, about 5 minutes. Remove bread and tomatoes, and continue cooking bell pepper until it is charred all over, about 7 minutes more. Let pepper cool, and then peel and remove seeds; thinly slice and transfer to a large bowl along with tomatoes, arugula, olives, parsley, onion, and cucumber. Cut bread slices into 1 1/2″ cubes and add to salad.
3. Heat grill to 425°. Place chicken skin side down on grill and cook, covered and turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 165°, about 25 minutes. Rub with remaining pesto and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 165°, about 5 minutes more. (Alternatively, heat an oven to 475°, and cook chicken, skin side up, for 25 minutes; rub with remaining pesto and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°.) Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil; rest for 20 minutes.
4. To serve, whisk together remaining oil, vinegar, roasted garlic, lemon juice, and zest in a small bowl; pour over bread salad, toss to combine, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer panzanella to a large serving platter, and place chicken over top; pour any juices that accumulated on the plate over salad.
Pairing Note: Refreshing and bracingly dry, Punta Crena Pettirosso Frizzante 2009 ($19) is a delicious pink bubbly, perfect for this summer dish.
**Correction: August 1, 2011 An earlier version of this recipe stated in step 4 that the incorrect amount of olive oil to use in the vinaigrette. The correct instruction is to whisk together the remaining olive oil (1/2 cup minus 2 tbsp.) with the vinegar, roasted garlic, lemon juice, and zest.
Ratings & Reviews (4)
Made the chicken with the Genovese pesto. Very tasty! Will be making it again.
I unfortunately did not have a grill where I was cooking so did it in the oven. I am also adverse to chicken skin and bones so tried it with just the skinless breast. My guess is that it is better with the skin, so stick to that. Otherwise, a fine dish but not as flavorful as I would have liked. That may be due to the lack of skin though...
Not a recipe to whip together on a weeknight, but definitely worth the effort. Great way to wind up the basil/tomato season before Jack Frost puts an end to going out the front door to gather them!!! I did use larger tomatoes cut in half and then cut into chunks after grilling (don't think those tomatoes in the photo ever saw a grill). Flavor was great even the next day. Extra pesto is going in the freezer for another meal when the snow flies and I need a taste of summer!!
Pesto-Rubbed Chicken with Panzanella
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