Seetha's PESTO Chicken

My version at Italian style PESTO chicken.


Ingredients Sunflower Seed Oil, Basil, Wild Garlic (16%), Garlic Chives, Sea Salt, Pecorino Romano DOP Cheese (contains preservative lysozyme from eggs), Cashew Nuts, Fuctose, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Fibre, Acidity Regulator: Lactic Acid.

For PESTO paste:
(if can get hold of a Italian Sacla Pesto paste that will ideal ..if not try this)
The only equipment you need is a food processor, blender or chopper.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh packed basil leaves (packed means, stuff them into a measure cup and press them down with your hand; it's not a precise measurement)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese( Kraft cheddar Cheese)

1/4 cup pine nuts (if you don't have pine nuts, you can use walnuts or hazelnuts)

3 garlic cloves, finely minced (or 1 tablespoon of prepared minced garlic)

1 tbsp of lemon juice. It is basically a form of citric acid and vitamin C, that helps prevent the pesto from turning brown upon exposure to the air.

1/4 cup Olive oil. It should be the "extra virgin" variety, not the ordinary cooking olive oil.

Making it:

Discard any flower buds, stems or leaves that aren't in good shape.
Wash the leaves out thoroughly. Chop the pine nuts, olive oil and garlic in the food processor or blender
Add the basil leaves and olive oil and chop Now start stuffing basil leaves (in small batches) into the food processor and chop them into the garlic, olive oil and pine nuts.(I blend in 2 green chillies..I like it spicy)
Chop the mix until it f orms a thick, smooth paste.
Blend in the grated Parmesan Cheese(optional)

Now for the Marination the chicken:

Wash and clean 500g of fresh boneless chicken. Cut it into cube size pieces. Marinate it with Pesto paste.Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. I sprinkle some hot paparika powder to give an extra ting of spicy flavoring kick to it.

Stir fry some pieces of bacon. Layer the chicken pieces with bacon, basil leaf and then roll it up and pierce a cocktail stick through it. Repeat this for all the other pieces and place in the oven (200 degee) for 20- 30 mins. or grill it for 15- 20 mins. That is till the chicken is cooked and golden brown color.

Serve hot in a platter and garnish with basil leaves. You must try this at home and send in your feedbacks!

Happy cooking!!