Chicken au Gratin with Asparagus and Havarti

Elegant whole asparagus spears top a simple chicken sauté for a quick yet special-enough-for-company dinner to welcome spring.

Preparation time

25 minutes

Ready in

40 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 to 19 minutes

Makes

4 servings

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • 16 Ontario Asparagus Spears, trimmed
  • 4 boneless skinless Ontario Chicken Breasts (about 1 lb/500 g)
  • 1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt, pepper and dried thyme leaves
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) each butter and vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp (25 mL) white wine or chicken broth
  • 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) sliced Ontario Mushrooms
  • 4 Ontario Havarti Cheese Slices (about 4 oz/125 g)
  • Paprika
  • Half lemon

Instructions

In large skillet of boiling water, cook asparagus for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender-crisp; drain. Chill under cold running water; drain again and pat dry. Set aside.

Place chicken breasts between waxed paper; using heavy pan or mallet, pound to slightly flatten. In shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper and thyme; coat both sides of chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess.

In large non-stick skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until well browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add wine; cover and simmer until chicken is no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Arrange chicken in one layer in shallow baking dish; set aside.

In same skillet, over high heat, cook mushrooms, adding a little more butter if needed, until tender, about 3 minutes; spoon over chicken. Top each chicken breast with 4 asparagus spears and a cheese slice. Broil until cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes.

To serve, sprinkle each with paprika and squeeze lemon juice over top.

Tip: Serve with roasted potato wedges.

Nutritional Information

  • Protein: 36 grams
  • Fat: 19 grams
  • Carbohydrate: 10 grams
  • Calories: 362
  • Fibre: 2 grams
  • Sodium: 495 mg

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