Chicken cordon bleu is pretty straightforward to put together, even if you are a novice cook. This tasty dish is also one of the best boneless chicken recipes to make if you like stuffed dishes. The recipe for has been around for centuries longer than the cookery school in France with the same name.
Nobody knows for sure whether this recipe originated in France or if it was invented by North American chefs attempting to imitate a stuffed meat recipe in the European style.
The History of Chicken Cordon Bleu
“Cordon bleu” actually translates to mean blue ribbon or blue band. The history of cordon bleu tells us that King Henry III started an order of knights, whose duty it was to fight for Catholicism.
The knights wore a Maltese cross around their neck, hung on a blue ribbon. Later on, they would gather for big gourmet feasts cooked by the top chefs at the time and this is how blue ribbons became associated with excellent food.
How to Make Chicken Cordon Bleu
This dish is normally made by wrapping the meat around a cheese and ham filling and it normally has a breadcrumb crust. To make this recipe in a very simple way, you can layer the ham and cheese over the meat and bake it.
A different preparation method for your chicken cordon bleu recipe is to cut a hole into the meat and poke the cheese into it, then wrap the ham around the outside and roll it in breadcrumbs. However, if you want to make the classic version the true authentic way, you will need to butterfly the bird, pound it flat, and then wrap it up, with the cheese and ham inside. Dip it in breadcrumbs and then grill, pan fry, or bake it.
Authentic cordon bleu has a ham and Swiss cheese filling. You might like to try Provolone, Gruyere, or mozzarella cheese. Use cured ham, bacon, or prosciutto as a filling too, it all depends on what you like or what you have in the refrigerator. Perhaps you would like to add a couple of chopped sun dried tomatoes or some fresh basil or spinach to the filling, although this is veering away from the original recipe.
Pound the meat with a mallet until it is a quarter inch thick and then sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Add the ham and cheese and roll the poultry up, using toothpicks to secure it. It is a good idea to stir the breadcrumbs into a beaten egg and roll the meat in the mixture, so they stick properly.
What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu
You can serve your creation with a creamy sauce or a mustard sauce. There are lots of different kinds of sauces you can choose from actually or you can simply serve it by itself.
Rice or potatoes are a nice accompaniment for this boneless chicken recipe and you can serve any vegetables you like on the side. This recipe is a great one for a dinner party because it looks appetizing, is easy to make and there are different variations.
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