Creamy Basil Chicken

There is nothing complicated about this recipe idea for basil chicken, but there is everything sophisticated. 

I have used chicken breasts, but any boneless chicken pieces will do. 

In line with my "eat real food" principles, really chicken is better with its skin, because it is not a wholefood without the skin and your body needs and craves fats.  However it is hard to find boneless chicken with skin,  so the frying oils and the basil oil will to some extent compensate for this.

The idea came from this recipe.  I was passing some packets of fresh herbs in the supermarket and had a sudden desire for something with basil (my all time favourite herb).  This was the nearest recipe I could find to what was itching and scratching around in my head.  So I just shuggled it around a bit to make it more to my liking and this is what I came up with - see if you like it

Creamy Basil Chicken - the recipe

Well, if you can call it a recipe.  I generally don't do exact quantities.  It all depends on what you have in the cupboards, what you fancy, what you like or hate, and the size of your appetite/number of people at the table.

So apologies for no exact measurements and please feel free to mess about with this basil chicken recipe however you want to

First make your basil oil.  Take a good handful of fresh basil, chop it up roughly and pour over a good glug or more of olive oil.  Leave that to one side to merge into a tasty basily/olivy flavour.  As long as you have added plenty of basil, it should turn a screaming green colour.

For safety reasons this oil should be used straight away - not stored for future use

Brown both sides of your chicken breasts in a little hot oil, then leave to cook for about 20 minutes or until cooked through thoroughly, turning the meat every now and again, then leave to cook for about 20 minutes or until cooked through thoroughly, turning the meat every now and again. 

Chicken breasts have a kind of natural split in them , so if you want them to cook quicker open them out flat.

Throw in some halved cherry tomatoes, and/or any other vegetables you fancy and stir fry them for a few minutes.

Then add a splash of water - just a splash mind you, no more.

once the water has heated up, take the pan from the heat and add a generous dollop of full fat cream cheese.  The original recipe suggests creme fraiche but I personally don't often keep that in the fridge and nearly always use cream cheese instead.  Mix it in and return to the heat briefly just to heat it up. 

Dish it out with whatever sides you have prepared and add a good trickle of the basil mixture.  If you like, instead, follow the idea of the original recipe and mix pesto or some of the basil oil into the creamy sauce

Alternatively, roast some chicken in its skin, forget the creamy sauce bit and just spoon the basil oil on top.

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Please remember that the author of this website is not a professional.  All statements are opinions and not to be taken as advice.