1tsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
4 chicken breasts, skinless
rocket, to serve
For the pesto
75g (3oz) unsalted cashews
25g (1oz) pack fresh basil
25g (1oz) Parmesan, grated
2 garlic cloves, crushed
finely grated zest and juice 1/2 lemon
50ml (2 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
For the bean mash
3 x 400g cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Start by making the pesto. In the small bowl of a food processor, pulse cashews until roughly chopped. Add basil (stalk and all), Parmesan, garlic, lemon zest and juice, oil and some seasoning. Whiz to a paste. Spoon just under half the pesto into a small bowl and set aside for the mash.
Step 2
Trim ends off courgette and, using a Y-shape vegetable peeler, peel along length of courgette to make ribbons. Put ribbons in a bowl and mix in oil.
Step 3
Cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast and using your finger, make a pocket inside each breast. Stuff remaining pesto into chicken breasts, then wrap courgette ribbons around breasts as best you can.
Step 4
Arrange chicken in a small roasting tin and cook in oven for 25min until cooked through.
Step 5
A few minutes before chicken is due to be ready, heat mash ingredients in a pan, mashing the beans slightly. Check seasoning, then marble through reserved pesto. Serve with the chicken, drizzled with a little oil, and a helping of rocket.
A crack team of highly skilled food content producers, the GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurstis our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time.
