Recipe Tuesday ~ Balsamic Glazed Chicken & Mock Mashed Potatoes

Here's a tried-and-true, go-to chicken dish that's easy, fast, good, and good for you.  I serve this with mock mashed potatoes (that's cauliflower, baby!).  Don't knock it until you try it!  I probably make these mock potatoes at least twice/week.  The photo is from Giada on Food Network, but the recipes are both mine.

Balsamic Glazed Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup chicken stock
2/3 cup balsamic vinegar (use a good one!)
1 tablespoon honey
4 tablespoons green onion tops, thinly sliced

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning and sprinkling pepper equally on each side of chicken, about 10 minutes or until slightly brown on all sides.
Remove chicken from pan and drain off any excess oil. Add the chopped garlic to the skillet and saute over medium heat for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and slowly add the chicken stock, scraping to dissolve any bits clinging to bottom of pan. Increase heat to medium-high; add vinegar and honey and rapidly boil for 3 minutes to reduce liquid to one cup. Return chicken to pan; reduce heat to medium. Cook, turning, about 30 minutes or until liquid thickens and becomes a dark mahogany glaze and chicken is done.

Mock Mashed Potatoes

1 medium head cauliflower
1 tablespoon reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon straight chicken base or bullion (may substitute 1/2 teaspoon salt)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or dry chives, for garnish
1 tablespoons butter substitute

Set a stockpot of water to boil over high heat.
Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Cook in boiling water for about 6 minutes, or until well done. Drain well and do not let the cauliflower cool.  In a food processor, puree the hot cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic, chicken base, butter substitute, and pepper until almost smooth.

Comments

[Sue]

You have the best recipes Barb. Yum-o!

[carjazi]

The chicken sounds heavenly, but I never could get those mock mashers down. It's just a mind set I guess. Hope that you're still doing well on the Beach. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by again.

[Sally M.]

Babs - this looks awesome. I can't wait to try the mock mashed potatos. Buuut, (and I know it's not your picture) it looks like cilantro is sprinkled on the chicken:) I love cilantro - I think it might be a good addition.

[Thumper6423]

Oh I should try the Mock Mashed potatoes to see if I can get more veggies in my boys - DH included!

[Shel Franz]

Oh you are making me so hungry, this looks delish!

[ckugrad]

My family had a fit when I made mashed potatoes out of cauliflower a while back! They want the real thing or nothing! LOL!

[DawnMarch]

Yummy! I'm going to have to try both of those -- we could use some more "real" veggies around here, not just potatoes!

[JanMary, N Ireland]

Never tried mock mashed potatoes - will give it a go.

[Tammy]

This sounds wonderful. I love cooking chicken like that and my husband is wanting to eat more honey. I will copy and paste this one. Thanks,

[Rona]

Oh yum!!! This looks totally delish! I can't wait for Lent to be over to dig into that chicken!!! Thanks for posting the recipe!