Hellim and Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts

 

Okay, this is the first recipe in my new series called “Simple Twists” where I take some of my most popular recipes, or some really traditional ones, and give them a proper “Meliz’s Cooks” twist. This first recipe Hellim and Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts based on the hellim and tomato stuffed whole chicken from my first cookbook, Meliz’s Kitchen 🫶🏼💕🧿 It is an absolute corker and if you ask me, it’s perfect for dinner tonight - please make it. 

Ingredients 

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley leaves

1 heaped tsp finely grated garlic 

1 heaped tsp dried oregano 

1/4 tsp coarse black pepper

250g hellim (halloumi), cut into 8 equal slices 

4 large chicken breasts, sliced across through the middle but not all the way through 

3/4 tsp sea salt flakes 

2 ripe tomatoes, each cut into 6 thin slices 

Method

Preheat oven to 200 C fan/220 C centigrade conventional. 

Brush a large shallow baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and leave to one side. 

Mix together the finely chopped parsley, garlic oregano, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the black pepper. Add the hellim slices to that herby, garlicky mixture and coat them well. Open up the sliced chicken breasts and season each one inside well with some of the sea salt. Add three tomato slices to each of the chicken breasts, top with the herby covered hellim slices, then secure the chicken breasts with three toothpicks. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to any of the herby mixture left in the bowl, and brush the tops of the chicken breasts with that lovely mixture. Season the chicken breasts well with some more sea salt (and a little more black pepper) and pop on the tray and into the oven on the middle shelf for around 12 minutes. Take the tray out of the oven, and turn the oven up to 230°C fan assisted/250 C conventional. Pour the juices in the tray over the chicken breasts and remove the toothpicks. 

Pop the tray back in the oven on the top shelf for around 10 to 12 minutes more until the tops of the chicken breasts have browned and the chicken is fully cooked through. Remove the tray from the oven, pour the juices in the tray over the chicken and enjoy. Delicious served with chips or rice, cacık and a fresh green salad. Please make it.

#chicken #bakedchicken #juicychicken #easydinner #midweekdinner #quickdinner#tomatoes #hellim #halloumi #PleaseMakeIt