Griddled chicken baguettes

How to make Griddled chicken baguettes recipe

Serves 4

Preparation time 10 minutes, Cooking time 8–10 minutes

Ingredients:
4 small part-baked granary or seeded baguettes
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 300 g (10 oz) in total
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 tablespoons red pepper pesto
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
handful of rocket leaves
salt and pepper
Salad
¼ cucumber, halved, deseeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped mint
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:
Place the baguettes on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven, 200°C (400°F), Gas Mark 6, for 8–10 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until crisp.

Meanwhile, lay a chicken breast between 2 sheets of clingfilm and flatten with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Repeat with the remaining chicken breast. Heat a griddle pan over a medium-high heat until hot.

Rub the oil over the chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper and cook on the hot griddle for 2–3 minutes or until slightly charred. Turn the chicken breasts over and cook for a further 2–3 minutes or until slightly charred and cooked through but not dry. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and leave to rest.

Make the salad. Mix together the cucumber, mint, lemon juice and a little salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Slice the chicken into thick slices. Cut the baguettes in half lengthways, spread with the red pepper pesto, then fill with the chicken and the cucumber salad. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds and add a few rocket leaves. Cut in half and serve immediately.

For griddled chicken & spicy couscous, prepare and cook 4 chicken breasts as above and cut into thick slices. Meanwhile, cook 500 g (1 lb) wholewheat couscous according to the packet instructions, then fork through 2 tablespoons harissa. Serve the chicken on the couscous with the cucumber salad as above.

Griddled chicken baguettes