Excerpt
CHICKEN WITH BASIL & ALMONDS
Succulent chicken breasts are accompanied in this dish by a vibrant green basil sauce, thickened with ground almonds and sour cream, with garlic and lemon juice for added flavor. This nourishing supper can be made very quickly and easily.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 11/2 pounds)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup ground almonds
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
3/4 cup finely shredded fresh basil, plus extra to garnish
juice of 1 lemon
1 1/4 cups sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Serves 4
- Combine the olive oil with 2-3 tablespoons of water in a large skillet, add the chicken breasts and gently poach without browning them over medium-low heat for 10 minutes on each side.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce -- mix the ground almonds, garlic, basil, lemon juice and sour cream into a smooth sauce, in a food processor, or with a wooden spoon in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Once the chicken is almost cooked, pour in the sauce, mixing it with the juices in the pan. Cook for a further 10 minutes until the sauce has heated through. Garnish with basil and serve with brown rice or boiled potatoes.