Description
These Chicken Pesto Pan Breads are a mouthwatering combination of soft, fluffy homemade rolls stuffed with flavorful chicken pesto, grilled bell peppers, and melted cheese. With a touch of green pesto and truffle mayonnaise, this dish is perfect for a satisfying meal or a party treat. Ready in under two hours, it’s a crowd-pleasing, savory delight!
Ingredients
For the Dough:
425 g flour
75 g fine semolina
7 g instant yeast
8 g salt
0.5 g thyme
12 g honey
25 ml olive oil
280 ml lukewarm water
For the Chicken Pesto:
600 g chicken thighs, cut into pieces
4.5 g salt
2 g cayenne powder
3 g garlic powder
4 g onion powder
2 g cumin powder
30 ml olive oil
25 g butter
45 g fresh green pesto
150 g grilled red bell pepper, sliced
75 g red onion, sliced
150 g cheese (your choice, sliced)
Fresh green pesto (for serving)
Truffle mayonnaise (for drizzling)
Instructions
Prepare the Dough:
In a large bowl, combine flour, semolina, yeast, salt, thyme, honey, olive oil, and lukewarm water. Mix well and knead for 10-12 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Shape the Rolls:
Punch down the dough and divide it into 14 equal pieces, about 57 grams each. Shape each piece into a ball.
Roll each ball into a circle and fold it in half to form a semi-circle. Place the dough on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat for all dough pieces.
Allow the dough to rise again for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
Cook the Rolls:
Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Cook each roll for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Let the rolls cool on a wire rack.
Prepare the Chicken Pesto:
In a large bowl, mix chicken thighs with salt, cayenne powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin powder.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken pieces for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Add Pesto and Vegetables:
Add butter, green pesto, grilled red bell pepper, and red onion to the skillet. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes until everything is well combined and heated.
Melt the Cheese:
Remove the skillet from heat and top the chicken with cheese slices. Cover with a lid for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
Assemble the Pan Breads:
Cut open each bread roll and stuff it with the chicken pesto mixture. Top with additional green pesto and drizzle with truffle mayonnaise for extra flavor.
Notes
For a richer flavor, grill your own bell peppers or prepare them ahead of time and store in the fridge.
These rolls are best served warm. Reheat in a 150°C (300°F) oven if needed.
You can prepare the chicken pesto mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it, making the assembly faster.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Rising time:: 1.5 hours (for dough)
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mediterranean