Quick and Delicious Smoked Chicken Recipe Smoked Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Sandwiches

When you think about smoked meats, smoked chicken isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind (you may be thinking about brisket, ribs, pork butt, etc…) When smoked properly chicken is absolutely delicious and takes on a flavor and texture that can’t be achieved by baking, roasting, or frying. Smoked chicken is moist and complex—as it smokes, the bird takes on a deep golden brown color and produces the most tender and flavorful chicken you’ll ever eat. Best of all, this bird is highly versatile—use smoked chicken leftovers in a variety of ways—in a salad, on a delicious sandwich (see the following recipe), or combined with pasta. Try this smoked chicken recipes out for lunch, brunch, a get together, or any time you have leftover smoked chicken. Purchase a smoked chicken breast that’s slowly smoked over hardwoods, then cooled rapidly to preserve all natural flavor and juices.This process seals in all the moisture and flavor—the smoked chicken breasts are then carefully vacuum packaged in sets of two, come fully cooked, and are ready for you to enjoy. Hot or cold, smoked chicken is delicious. Smoked Chicken Recipe: Smoked Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Basil Pesto Ingredients You’ll Need for Smoked Chicken Sandwich Recipe: Dried tomatoes (3/4 of a cup), choose tomatoes that don’t come packed in oil 6 to 8 oz of smoked chicken breast, sliced thinly A bunch of arugula, washed well and dried completely (approximately 1 cup) A long loaf of bread of your choice (French or Italian works well) ½ cup of pesto Ingredients for Pesto: ¼ cup of olive oil 1/3 cup of pine nuts (lightly toasted) 1 cup of parsley leaves, washed well and dried completely 1 cup of basil leaves, washed well and dried completely 1 large clove of garlic ¼ cup of Kalamata olives (brine-cured salty olives, pits removed and finely chopped) Creating Smoked Chicken Sandwiches: 1.Place sundried tomatoes into a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water (enough to cover). Cover and let stand 20-30 minutes, until tomatoes have softened. Drain well and pat dry. 2.Cut your bread loaf diagonally into 4 pieces, half each piece horizontally—spread pesto on both cut sides of bread and create 4 sandwiches with smoked chicken, arugula, and tomatoes. Making Pesto for Smoked Chicken Sandwich: 1.Add garlic clove to your food processor and mince well. 2.Add your basil, parsley, and toasted pine nuts and blend well again.(Pine nuts can be toasted carefully (no oil necessary) in a skillet over low-medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent burning). 3.With motor running, add olive oil to emulsify pesto to a consistent paste. 4.Stir in finely chopped Kalamata olives. Erica Ronchetti is a freelance writer and editor for Smokedfoods, a provider of smoked chicken and delicious smoked recipes.Visit Smokedfoods.com for our award winning Natural Smoked Tasmanian Trout, smoked salmon recipes, and other smoked meat.

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Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes

What can beat a quick and easy recipe that is as good for your busy schedule as it is for your health? Not only is baking considered to be the healthiest way of preparing chicken, but it is also one of the quickest and simplest ways to prepare a tasty meal. Chicken is loaded with proteins and has considerably less fat than red meat, making it an ideal source of protein. Whether prepared in whole or in part, it is recommended to keep the skin on the chicken while baking to prevent the meat from drying and burning. The skin helps maximize taste and can be removed before serving. For those who choose to leave the skin out entirely, baking chicken in sauce or as part of a casserole is a great way to serve a more juicy and tasteful entrée. There is a range of sauces and seasonings used to prepare truly mouthwatering chicken recipes. Follow this expert tip for getting the most taste out of your baked chicken dishes: once the dish is prepared for baking, place the contents in an oven bag to preserve flavor throughout the cooking process. Your guests will taste the difference. An alternative is to place individual pieces of chicken in aluminum foil, along with sauce and seasonings. The foil should be folded in a way that would prevent the sauce from escaping. Arrange the foil-wrapped chicken pieces on a baking dish or tray and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven. Most recipes for chicken require a baking time of 30 minutes to one and a half hours. Chicken lends itself well to a variety of flavors and seasonings. Below are some of the most popular chicken recipes among home cooks. Honey 'n GarlicTake a walk on the sweet side and add some honey flavor to your baked chicken. Baked chicken works incredibly well in a honey garlic sauce. Although it may seem like an odd blend at first, the sweetness of honey and the intensity of garlic are a wonderful combination of spices to make a mouthwatering chicken centerpiece. Honey has a tendency to mellow out the strong flavor of garlic, creating a smooth and flavorful taste to complement most side dishes. Honey 'n Garlic chicken tastes wonderful served alongside rice mixed with raisins and other dry fruits. Barbecue SpicesThe sweet tanginess of barbeque is a perfect complement for chicken and a great addition to your personal recipes cookbook. Barbecue sauce bakes well and comes in a large variety of flavors. From hot and spicy to sweet and tangy, there is ample variety to suit even the pickiest eaters. Barbecue sauce makes chicken tender, juicy and flavorful and is very easy to prepare. Cranberry SweetnessA special recipe to share with your loved ones is baked chicken with cranberry sauce. Although cranberry sauce is most commonly associated with holiday turkey dinners, cranberries make a perfect complement for chicken. Cranberry sauce adds much freshness and juiciness to the natural texture of chicken, and makes an enlivening sauce that is sure to be noticed. Serve this chicken dish in the wintertime, when the cranberries act as an immune booster. If fresh cranberries are hard to find, dried berries can be used instead. Be sure to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe, as dried cranberries are usually pre-sweetened. Asian SaucesCraving exotic Asian flavors? Chicken in teriyaki sauce is a popular dish that is a sure crowd-pleaser. Homemade chicken teriyaki is healthier and tastier than takeout. Instead of opting for bottled teriyaki, make the sauce from scratch for a more intense and fresh flavor. Making the sauce yourself will also give you a great control over the final taste. With a bit of experimentation, you can create a sauce that is perfectly suited to your liking. You control the sweetness, thickness and the intensity of flavor. There is nothing quite like a teriyaki sauce made at home!

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