Pressed Chicken with Yellow Squash and Tomatoes

A flavorful dish featuring crispy-skinned chicken breast halves cooked under weight, served with a fresh summer vegetable medley of yellow squash, tomatoes, and aromatic marjoram. The pressing technique ensures even cooking and perfectly crispy skin.

4 servings
34 min

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces chicken breast halves with skin and bone (2 to 2 1/4 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¾ pound yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 pound tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 teaspoons chopped marjoram
  • divided

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Pat chicken dry and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Add chicken, skin side down. Cover with a round of parchment paper, then a heavy pot or skillet, followed by a 3- to 5-pound weight (such as two 32-ounce cans or a brick wrapped in foil). Cook 10 minutes, then remove weight, pot, and parchment.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Turn chicken over and re-cover with a clean round of parchment, pot, and weight, then cook until just cooked through, about 8 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm, covered.

    8 min

  4. 4.

    Add squash, tomatoes, garlic, 2 teaspoons marjoram, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to fat in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until squash is just tender and tomatoes have become saucy, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in any juices from plate and season with salt and pepper. Spoon over chicken.

    8 min

  5. 5.

    Sprinkle chicken and vegetables with remaining teaspoon marjoram.

    1 min

  6. 6.

    Serve with: a green salad tossed with red-wine vinaigrette

    2 min

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