Considered one of our final sandwiches is that this hen pesto sandwich! It stars grilled hen breast topped with herby basil pesto, recent mozzarella, and ripe tomatoes, all nestled between two slices of crusty bread.
There’s nothing we love greater than an over-the-top sandwich: and even higher, one which’s fairly easy to place collectively. So right here’s a brand new favourite for me and Alex: this hen pesto sandwich!
Why we love this recipe: This sammie masterpiece combines our favourite juicy grilled hen with grilled ciabatta bread, child arugula, mushy recent mozzarella cheese, and juicy tomato slices. One of the best half, in fact, is our herbaceous basil pesto. You already know while you sink your tooth into an ideal sandwich and might’t assist however exclaim “yum“? That’s this sandwich.
Tip: Wish to serve a vegetarian model of this sandwich on the similar time? Substitute the grilled hen with grilled portobello mushrooms or grilled eggplant.
Substances for a hen pesto sandwich
A hen pesto sandwich may be made in some ways: merely mix basil pesto with hen on bread in any variety of mixtures! However we prefer it greatest as a variation on a Caprese sandwich: with recent mozzarella and tomato to optimize the colour, texture and taste contrasts. It’s greatest if you may make this sandwich with selfmade basil pesto, however bought works in a pinch. Listed here are the elements you’ll want:
- Boneless skinless hen breasts: Search for natural hen if attainable, in cutlets or breasts (and you may butterfly them earlier than cooking).
- Spices & olive oil: A mix of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper is right for grilling for the hen.
- Ciabatta bread: Ciabatta is a kind of Italian bread that’s mushy and excellent for sandwiches! Keep away from a French baguette, which may be robust to chunk by means of. Some other sort of artisan bread works: focaccia is particularly good.
- Child arugula: Arugula provides a crunch and peppery taste. Search for child arugula (offered in a field or bag): commonplace arugula offered in bunches is way too spicy.
- Tomato slices: Use solely the very best, juicy in season tomatoes.
- Basil pesto: Selfmade pesto is essential to the flavour. In our opinion, the very best bought choice is refrigerated recent pesto, discovered within the produce part.
💡Why purchase natural hen? We advocate shopping for natural because it’s the high-quality meat that’s raised sustainably with out chemical substances. Natural requirements require that the chickens have entry to the outside and can’t be given antibiotics or progress hormones (blissful chickens!).
Ideas for cooking the hen
One of the best hen pesto sandwich makes use of grilled hen, which infuses irresistible smoky notes into the flavour. However when you don’t have a grill, you may also pan fry the hen! Listed here are a couple of notes:
- Butterfly the hen first. Butterflying hen is solely reducing it in half horizontally, which helps it to cook dinner extra evenly and ends in a extra juicy, well-seasoned breast.
- For greatest outcomes, grill the hen. Make our Grilled Hen for the very best taste. This includes a 30 minute marinade time and a couple of to 4 minutes per aspect on a grill preheated to excessive warmth.
- Or, pan sear the hen! You are able to do the identical recipe in a skillet! Go to the directions for cooking hen in our Hen Pasta Salad.
Selfmade vs bought pesto
This hen pesto sandwich seems and tastes greatest with selfmade basil pesto. However in fact, this isn’t all the time attainable. Listed here are a couple of pesto suggestions:
- Selfmade pesto has the very best taste and coloration. Make a batch of basil pesto when you can. Different choices are arugula pesto or kale pesto, which have a barely spicier taste, and even solar dried tomato pesto.
- Or strive refrigerated recent pesto, discovered within the produce part. In our style assessments, we’ve discovered this kind of pesto tends has higher taste than pesto in jars. It’s usually offered in tubes.
- Jarred pesto manufacturers can style bitter; contemplate including lemon. Every model has a distinct salt and acid degree, and a few style very bitter and acidic. Including a spritz of recent lemon juice can assist to enhance the flavour.
Storing leftovers and make forward suggestions
This hen pesto sandwich is nice for anytime, from cookouts to picnics to straightforward dinners. Alex and I have been blissful to search out this sandwich one does maintain up properly over time, too! However listed here are a couple of suggestions:
- The tomato and mozzarella could make the bread soggy. In the event you layer the arugula underneath the mozzarella, it helps so this ingredient doesn’t are available in contact with the bread. In the event you can, add the sliced tomato simply earlier than serving, or place the tomato between the hen and cheese.
- If serving inside 2 hours, refrigeration just isn’t wanted. Cooked hen can sit as much as 2 hours at room temperature.
- In any other case, wrap and refrigerate or maintain in a cooler till serving. The bread can turn out to be robust when refrigerated, so permit the sandwich to come back to room temperature earlier than serving.
Extra sandwich recipes
This hen pesto sandwich is certainly one of our favourite summer season dinner recipes! It really works for both lunch or dinner, making it tremendous versatile for meals all through the week. Listed here are a couple of extra sandwich recipes you would possibly take pleasure in:
Continuously requested questions
Completely! Whereas mozzarella enhances the flavors of the pesto and grilled hen properly, you may substitute it with provolone, fontina, and even burrata for a creamier texture.
Select a bread that may maintain as much as the juicy hen and pesto. Ciabatta, focaccia, or a crusty sourdough bread are all good choices. You may as well strive a gluten-free bread if desired.
Get artistic together with your toppings! Listed here are some concepts:
Roasted pink peppers
Caramelized onions
Arugula or spinach
Sliced avocado
Balsamic glaze
Description
Considered one of our final sandwiches is that this hen pesto sandwich! It stars grilled hen breast topped with herby basil pesto, recent mozzarella, and ripe tomatoes, all nestled between two slices of crusty bread.
- 2 boneless skinless hen breasts (about 1 pound, natural if attainable), butterflied or cutlets
- ½ tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- 4 slices ciabatta bread (or focaccia bread, or one other artisan type bread)
- 1 cup child arugula
- 2 tomato slices
- 2 tablespoons recent basil pesto
- 4 oz recent mozzarella, thinly sliced
- Pat the hen dry with a paper towel. If not already butterflied, place your hand excessive of every hen breast. Use a pointy knife to fastidiously slice the breast horizontally, leaving the sting intact so it might probably open up like a ebook (or butterfly!). Unfold the breast like a ebook, then reduce alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves.
- Add the hen to a container and add the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and some grinds of black pepper. Combine together with your palms till evenly coated. Cowl and marinate within the fridge for half-hour (or as much as 24 hours).
- Preheat a grill to excessive warmth (450 to 550°F)*. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the ciabatta bread.
- Grill the hen breasts till grill marks seem and it releases from the grates, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook dinner till now not pink within the middle and the interior temperature is 165°F, 2 to 4 minutes. Take away to a platter and canopy with foil. Enable to relaxation for five minutes for optimum juiciness.
- Grill the ciabatta till calmly browned, 1 to 2 minutes per aspect.
- Place the arugula in a bowl and blend with a small drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. To make the sandwich, on one slice of bread layer arugula, recent mozzarella cheese, grilled hen, pesto, and sliced tomato (seasoned with 2 pinches of salt). High with the remaining bread slice and luxuriate in.
Notes
*You may as well pan fry the hen by cooking it in a skillet with olive oil over medium excessive warmth for two to 4 minutes per aspect (skip the marinading time).
- Class: Essential dish
- Methodology: Grilled
- Delicacies: Hen
