Mediterranean Chicken Breasts with Bread Salad Recipe

Mediterranean Chicken Breasts with Bread Salad Recipe

  • 1/4 pound Safeway SELECT Artisan French Bread
  • 2 tablespoons Safeway SELECT Verdi Balsamic Vinegar, divided
  • 1/4 cup Safeway SELECT Verdi Olive Oil, divided
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 4 boned chicken breast halves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 teaspoons minced or pressed garlic, divided
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 2 cups diced firm-ripe tomatoes
  • 2 quarts lightly-packed arugula, rinsed and crisped
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper
  1. Cut bread into 1-inch chunks and spread in a single layer in a shallow 3-quart casserole (about 9 in. by 13 in.). Bake in a 450 degrees F oven, turning occasionally with a wide spatula until bread is crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Pour bread into a wide bowl; drizzle with 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons oil, and mix.
  2. Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, stir or shake pine nuts until golden, about 3 minutes. Pour from pan.
  3. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Pat thyme and 2 teaspoons garlic onto skin side of chicken. Lay chicken, skin side up, in a single layer in the casserole. Bake in a 450 degrees F oven until chicken is no longer pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), 18 to 20 minutes.
  4. Add remaining 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 teaspoons garlic, and green onions to frying pan. Stir over medium-high heat until vegetables are limp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes; stir just until hot, about 2 minutes. Put arugula in bowl with bread; pour tomato mixture over arugula. Add pine nuts and mix well.
  5. Spoon salad equally onto 4 serving plates. Lay 1 chicken breast half on each salad. Add salt and pepper to taste.