Pistachio Crusted Chicken with Feta

INGREDIENTS

• 4 chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
• 1 cup chopped pistachios
• 3/4 cup dry plain bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 ounces crumbled French Feta cheese
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 eggs, beaten

For the Tomato Sauce:

• 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 ounces tomato paste (small can)
• 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon sugar (depending on the sweetness of the canned tomatoes)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

To make the sauce:

In a medium saucepan, sauté garlic and onion in oil until translucent.

Add tomato paste, tomatoes, water, wine, sugar, oregano and basil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes over medium low heat.

For the Chicken:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare three bowls: one containing flour to coat chicken breast, another containing the beaten egg, and the third containing chopped pistachios, breadcrumbs and oregano. Season all 3 with salt & pepper.

Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add feta cheese, 2 teaspoons chopped pistachios and 1/2 clove minced garlic to one side of the flattened chicken breast. Fold over and secure with toothpicks to keep filling inside.

Coat breast in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip chicken in egg mixture and then into the pistachio mixture. Set aside and finish breading the remaining chicken.

Heat olive oil in oven safe skillet over medium heat and sear chicken for approximately 3-4 minutes on one side and then flip over. Cover with foil and place in the oven. Bake approximately 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve with tomato sauce and garnish with feta.