Description
Strawberry balsamic walnut chicken delivers a symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory notes dancing across your palate. Mediterranean-inspired flavors merge seamlessly, creating a gourmet experience that elevates ordinary chicken into a memorable culinary journey you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 egg
Dry Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup crushed walnuts
- ¼ cup seasoned Italian bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Fresh black pepper (to taste)
Sauce and Garnish Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter
- ¼ cup yellow onion (minced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) honey
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries (chopped, plus more for serving)
- ½ teaspoon fresh parsley or basil (chopped, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal chicken preparation.
- Create an egg wash by whisking one egg, one tablespoon of water, with a pinch of salt and pepper in a shallow dish.
- In a separate shallow bowl, combine finely chopped walnuts and breadcrumbs to create a crispy coating mixture.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides, ensuring even coverage.
- Dip each chicken breast into the egg wash, allowing excess liquid to drip off before transferring to the walnut-breadcrumb mixture.
- Gently press the walnut-breadcrumb mixture onto each chicken breast, ensuring a complete and even coating.
- Arrange the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet with the crusted side facing upward.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes, monitoring internal temperature until it reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- While chicken bakes, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Sauté minced garlic and finely chopped onions until soft and translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Blend fresh strawberries and balsamic vinegar until smooth in a food processor or blender.
- Pour the strawberry-balsamic puree into the saucepan with sautéed aromatics.
- Add chicken broth, honey, and dried thyme to the sauce mixture.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Plate the walnut-crusted chicken and generously drizzle with the strawberry balsamic sauce.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or basil and optional fresh strawberry slices for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Elevate your weeknight dinner with this gourmet-style chicken that combines crispy walnut coating and vibrant strawberry balsamic sauce.
- Choosing fresh, ripe strawberries ensures the most intense and natural sweetness in the sauce, creating a perfect balance with tangy balsamic vinegar.
- Toasting walnuts briefly before chopping enhances their nutty flavor and adds extra crunch to the chicken’s crispy exterior.
- Monitoring chicken’s internal temperature prevents overcooking and maintains juicy, tender meat throughout the baking process.
- Allowing the sauce to simmer slowly concentrates flavors, transforming simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality reduction that elevates the entire dish.
- Garnishing with fresh herbs not only adds visual appeal but also introduces bright, aromatic notes that complement the rich strawberry balsamic sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking, Blending, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 80mg