Hungarian Chicken with Parmesan Polenta Recipe
Tantalize your taste buds with paprika-infused chicken paired with comforting and creamy polenta.
Photo: Photographer: Edward Pond
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Polenta helps protect your vision: it is rich in carotenoids, plant pigments that help with healthy cell growth. When converted to vitamin A, carotenoids can also help support proper eye health and night vision. One study noted that carotenoids found in milled yellow corn products such as polenta are “highly bioaccessible,” meaning they are as easily digested (to a similar or higher extent) as some more well-known carotenoid sources, such as carrots.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups raw polenta (aka corn grits)
- 1 oz sun-dried tomatoes, julienned
- 3 oz shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
Preparation
- In a deep 9-inch glass baking dish, add 1/4 tsp oil and rub along sides and bottom of dish to coat; set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 4½ cups water to a boil. Stir in polenta and tomatoes and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes. (NOTE: Polenta will pop and bubble as it cooks; use a long-handled spoon for stirring to avoid scalding.) Add Parmesan and cook, stirring constantly, until completely melted, about 2 minutes.
- Spoon polenta into baking dish and set aside until set, about 15 minutes; polenta should easily pull away from sides of dish when jiggled.
- Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat remaining 3/4 tsp oil on medium. Add chicken and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until thickest piece of chicken is cooked through. Add basil and paprika and stir to coat. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- Place a large plate over top of polenta dish. Holding plate and dish tightly, gently invert polenta onto plate and let cool for 2 minutes. Cut polenta into quarters and divide among serving plates. Serve with chicken, dividing evenly.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 3 oz chicken and 11 oz polenta
- Calories 411
- Carbohydrate Content 46 g
- Cholesterol Content 84 mg
- Fat Content 8 g
- Fiber Content 4 g
- Protein Content 36 g
- Saturated Fat Content 3 g
- Sodium Content 548 mg
- Sugar Content 3 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 1 g