Apricot Chicken with Almonds
Tender chicken breasts glazed with a sweet and savory apricot sauce, topped with toasted almonds for a delicious crunch. This elegant dish combines the sweetness of apricot preserves with soy sauce and whole-grain mustard for a perfectly balanced flavor.
Ingredients
- •4 pieces skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- •⅝ teaspoon salt
- •½ teaspoon black pepper
- •⅓ cup sliced almonds
- •½ cup apricot preserves
- •1½ tablespoons soy sauce
- •1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
- •1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a 13- by 9-inch flameproof baking dish (not glass).
10 min
- 2.
Pat chicken dry and sprinkle all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper total, then arrange at least 1/4 inch apart in baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.
10 min
- 3.
While chicken bakes, toast almonds in a small baking pan in oven, stirring twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
10 min
- 4.
Meanwhile, cook apricot preserves, soy sauce, mustard, butter, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until preserves are melted. Pour sauce over chicken and continue to bake until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes more.
10 min
- 5.
Turn on broiler and broil chicken 4 to 5 inches from heat, basting once, until chicken is glazed and browned in spots, about 3 minutes. Serve sprinkled with almonds.
3 min