The addition of goat cheese, apricots, and pesto lends a Mediterranean flavor to chicken. The pesto is made with fresh mint and almonds, rather than the usual basil and pine nuts.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 4

　　4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)

　　1/2 cup sliced almonds

　　2 ounces goat cheese

　　4 dried apricots, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (3 tablespoons)

　　Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

　　1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs

　　1 large egg, lightly beaten

　　1 tablespoon olive oil

　　Mint Pesto (recipe below)

　　

Mint Pesto Ingredients

3 cups lightly packed fresh mint

　　1/4 cup sliced almonds

　　1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　Coarse salt

　　

To Prepare The Chicken

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut a slit in one side of each chicken breast to create a pocket about 4 inches long.

　　

Step 2

2. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the almonds with the goat cheese and apricots. Stuff each breast with one quarter of the mixture. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

　　

Step 3

3. On a plate, combine the breadcrumbs and the remaining 1/4 cup almonds. Dip each breast into the beaten egg, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.

　　

Step 4

4. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to the oven; bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Serve hot with the mint pesto on the side.

　　

To Prepare The Mint Pesto

Step 5

1. In a food processor, combine the mint and almonds; process until finely chopped.

　　

Step 6

2. With the motor running, gradually pour the olive oil through the feed tube. Season with salt. Keep at room temperature until ready to serve. Store leftover pesto in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks; let it come to room temperature before serving.

　　

Nutrition Per Serving

Per serving: 470.0 calories

　　390.0 calories from fat

　　44.0g total fat

　　7.0g saturated fat

　　55.0mg cholesterol

　　190.0mg sodium

　　13.0g total carbs

　　8.0g dietary fiber

　　2.0g sugars

　　10.0g protein

　　#### Nutritional analysis provided by [TasteBook

　　using the USDA Nutrition Database]( )

　　Reprinted with permission from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2007 by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Martha Stewart Living magazine was first published in 1990. Over the years, more than two dozen books have been published by the magazine's editors.Martha Stewart is the author of dozens of best-selling books on cooking, entertaining, gardening, weddings, and decorating. She is the host of The Martha Stewart Show, the successful daily syndicated television show.