Saturday, December 20, 2014

HOW TO BAKE CHICKEN BREAST

Delight your family by making these delicious oven baked chicken breast, served with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a dieter's best friend and an excellent source of lean protein. 4-ounce serving of boneless, skinless chicken breast contains  26 gm of protein.


Ingredients:

Boneless Skinless chicken breast  : 2 (You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs too)
Lemon Juice : 2tbsp / Vinegar : 1tbsp
Ginger : 1/2 inch piece, grated
Garlic Owder : 1tsp or  3 garlicbcloves : grated / finely chopped
Olive oil / vegetable oil : 1/2tbsp
Salt and pepper

Other Spices or seasonings : 1/2tsp (You can use your choice of spice like cumin powder, all spice powder, coriander - chilly and garam masala powder)
i used dried thyme and oregano for this recipe

Method for Restaurant style Juicy baked chicken recipe :

Put chicken in a colander and pat dry(important step) completely. Combine it with the remaining ingredients and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour. Take the chicken from refrigerator before baking and allow it to reach room temperature. This helps to get the most tender and delicious chicken.


Baking Method :

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Take a Parchment paper (Butter paper) lined vessel and grease it with olive oil). 

2. Take out the chicken pieces from the marination and arrange it on the greased vessel, spaced evenly. Take another parchment paper and apply some butter on one side. Cover the Chicken pieces with a parchment paper  - butter side down and tuck the edges down. Bake for 35 minutes for the best juicy and tender chicken breast. Meat thermometer should indicate between 160 - 165 degrees.

3. If you don't have parchment paper with you , then use aluminum foil. But covering with aluminum foil will increase the heat and the juices will run out from chicken. So bake for 35-45 minutes and then turn into broil method till the water evaporates. 

4. Serve hot with with mashed Potatoes / Flat bread / Gravy.