Fresh Focaccia with Marinated Chicken and Spinach and Artichoke Spread

Show: Episode:

Picture of Fresh Focaccia with Marinated Chicken and Spinach and Artichoke Spread Recipe 1 Video | Photo: Fresh Focaccia with Marinated Chicken and Spinach and Artichoke Spread Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 8 Reviews
Total Time:
55 min
Prep
10 min
Inactive
30 min
Cook
15 min
Yield:
6 to 8 servings
Level:
Easy
x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please limit to 20 characters

Saving Recipe

Adding Recipe

Or Do Not Add

Success

This recipe was saved to your Folder_Name folder.

x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to save this recipe to your Recipe Box!!

25 Characters Max

Enter Time:

:
:

You can create up to five timers

Ingredients

Chicken:

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup Balsamic Base, recipe follows (or balsamic vinegar)

Spinach and Artichoke Spread:

  • 5 ounces (1/2 a box) frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, drained
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • One 6-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained

Sandwich Build:

  • Fresh Focaccia, recipe follows
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, sliced into thin strips
  • 1 pound ball fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4-inch slices
  • 2 cups arugula

Directions

For the chicken: Marinate the chicken in the Balsamic Base for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Preheat a grill pan or grill over medium-high heat.

Let any excess marinade drip off the chicken, and then grill the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes per side until cooked through. Once cooked, let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Then slice thinly on the bias.

For the spinach and artichoke spread: Squeeze the drained spinach with a kitchen towel to dry it out. Place into a food processor with the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Puree until smooth. Taste for seasoning and add the artichokes. Pulse 2 to 3 times to leave the artichokes slightly chunky.

For the sandwich build: Cut the Fresh Focaccia in half equatorially. Spread each half with Spinach Artichoke Spread. Then, on the bottom of the bread, sprinkle over the sliced sun-dried tomatoes, top with chicken slices, place a layer of mozzarella down and top with arugula. Place on the other half of bread and cut into as many pieces as you like and enjoy!

Balsamic Base:

  • 4 cups balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
  • 8 fresh basil leaves
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 large shallot, roughly chopped

Heat the balsamic vinegar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, salt, pepper, basil, thyme, garlic and shallots into the saucepan and stir. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let cook until the liquid is reduced by half, 30 to 45 minutes. Once the mixture is reduced, strain it through a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl and let cool. Store the balsamic base in the fridge; it's great in salad dressings, marinades, drizzled over steaks...let your imagination run wild. Yield: 1 1/3 cups.

Fresh Focaccia:

  • 2 cups warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary, finely chopped, plus leaves, for garnish
  • 1 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing
  • 8 thinly sliced rounds beefsteak tomato
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Place the water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the sugar, sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it bloom until bubbly, 5 to 15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose and wheat flours together with the salt and chopped rosemary. Gradually add the flour mixture to the bloomed yeast in the mixing bowl. Then add 1/2 cup of the olive oil.

Using the dough hook attachment, mix the dough on medium speed until it becomes smooth and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. The dough will be very loose.

Transfer the dough to a clean, floured surface and knead the dough by hand for 2 to 3 minutes.

Wipe out the bowl you mixed the dough in and then coat the bowl with some olive oil. Return the dough to the oiled bowl and let it rest in a warm place, covered with a dish towel, until doubled in size, 30 to 35 minutes.

Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking sheet with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Spread the dough into the pan using your fingertips to create dimples into the dough. The more dimples you make, the more texture the bread will have.

Using a pastry brush, oil the dough and place leaves of rosemary into some of the dimples. Top with the tomato slices and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Cover the dough again with the towel and let rest in a warm spot until doubled in size, another 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degree F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.

Bake the dough until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.

Print Recipe

Browse Reviews by Keywordnew!

Loading review filters...

COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

    

Sign in

All fields are required.

E-mail Address:

Password:

Remember me on this computer

Signing in

Please enter your email address and we will send your password

E-mail Address

Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

Not a member?

Sign up for My Food Network to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

It's free and easy.

Review This Recipe

You must be logged in to review this recipe.

Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 8 reviews

  • on November 05, 2012

    Flag

    I only made the spinach and artichoke spread part of this recipe, but it was absolutely delicious! Can be used as a sandwich spread or even as a dip. I grilled some chicken and put it on a roll with cheese, the spread and fresh spinach and made it into a panini. Would definitely make this again!

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on July 17, 2012

    Flag

    Delicious, easy, always been a fan of spinach/artichoke anything. Never thought of putting it on a sandwich. Keep them coming Jeff, love your show.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on May 17, 2012

    Flag

    This tastes amazing! Be warned that the recipe is fairly time consuming. Particularly making the focaccia bread. I made the spread and balsamic base one day and the focaccia the next. It was much easier that way.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Next Recipe

Fresh Focaccia

Fresh Focaccia

By: Jeff Mauro
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Advertisement

Free Recipe of the Day Newsletter

Let Food Network chefs plan what's for dinner, with quick and easy recipes delivered to your inbox daily.

Ads by Google

© 2013 Television Food Network G.P. All rights reserved.