Roasted Chicken Roulade With Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese
A side dish, a sauce and chicken all in one? Yes, a roulade. A roulade is a piece of poultry, meat or fish wrapped around a stuffing. Pound the chicken thinly, add other ingredients, then wrap it up and cook.
The stuffing eliminates the need for a sauce. Each bite of chicken includes the sweetness of the sun-dried tomato pesto, the wilted spinach and creamy melted goat cheese. If you are feeling creative, change the flavor of your roulades by using basil pesto and experimenting with some of your favorite cheeses.
A roulade makes a beautiful presentation. Slice it in half on a bias or in a few rounds and serve over rice pilaf.
Since the roulades take 15 to 20 minutes to roast, be sure to have all your ingredients ready before you start rolling.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a jellyroll pan with parchment paper.
Two at a time, place the chicken breasts, smooth side up, between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, gently and evenly pound the chicken to about 1/4-inch thick.
Place each pounded chicken breast lengthwise on the parchment-covered pan, smooth side down. Season with salt and pepper. Spread the pesto over the surface of the chicken, dividing evenly. Press 3 spinach leaves on top of each breast and add 2 teaspoons of goat cheese. Very gently and tightly, roll the chicken away from you. Rub the top of each roulade with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Roast the roulades until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, about 20 minutes. At the 18-minute mark, cut one of the roulades in half to check if the chicken is cooked through; if not, return to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes.
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