Gorgonzola & Prune Stuffed Chicken
Stuffing a chicken breast is relatively simple, but your guests need not know that. We use Gorgonzola and prunes here, but try it with any favorite combination of dried fruit and flavorful cheese. Serve over quick-cooking barley with broccolini or a steamed artichoke on the side.

Ingredients
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1/2 cup chopped prunes, divided
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1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
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1/4 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs, (see Note)
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1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme , divided
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4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (1-1 1/4 pounds), trimmed (see Tip)
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
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1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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1 shallot , minced
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1/2 cup red wine
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1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
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4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Directions
1.
Combine 1/4 cup prunes, Gorgonzola, breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon thyme in a small bowl. Cut a horizontal slit along the thin edge of each chicken breast, nearly through to the opposite side. Stuff each breast with about 2 1/2 tablespoons filling. Use a couple of toothpicks to seal the opening. Season with salt and pepper.
2.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
3.
Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, shallot and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme to the pan; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine and the remaining 1/4 cup prunes. Reduce heat to medium; cook, scraping up any browned bits, until most of the wine evaporates, about 2 minutes. Whisk broth and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the pan and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
4.
Reduce heat to low, return the chicken and any juices to the pan and turn to coat with sauce. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more. Remove toothpicks, slice the chicken and top with the sauce.
Tips:
Note: We like Ian's brand of coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs, labeled "Panko breadcrumbs." Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. Or, make your own breadcrumbs: Trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. One slice makes about 1/3 cup. Spread the breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees F until dry and crisp, about 15 minutes.
Tip: To select chicken breasts: Our recommended serving size is 4-ounces (uncooked), so look for small breasts. If yours are closer to 5 ounces each, remove the tender (about 1 ounce) from the underside to get the correct portion size. Wrap and freeze the leftover tenders; when you have gathered enough, use them in a stir-fry, for chicken fingers or in soups.
Nutrition information
Calories 318, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Sodium 541 mg, Carbohydrate 21 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 31 g, Potassium 492 mg. Exchanges: Starch 0.5,Fruit 1,Lean Meat 4.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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