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Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Paillards

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Moroccan-Spiced Chicken PaillardsRomulo Yanes

Slightly sweet, tangy, and spicy all at once, the easy sauce doubles the flavor of quick-cooking thin-sliced chicken breasts.

Cooks' note:

Some sliced chicken breasts may not be of an even thickness. If necessary, put each paillard between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with flat side of a meat pounder until about 1/4 inch thick.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    35 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

For sauce

1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon mild honey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For paillards

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika (not hot)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 lb boneless chicken breast slices (1/4 inch thick; see cooks' note, below)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Special Equipment

a well-seasoned large (2-burner) ridged grill pan

Preparation

  1. Prepare grill pan and start sauce:

    Step 1

    Heat grill pan over moderate heat until hot.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, simmer all sauce ingredients except butter in a 1-quart saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Set aside while cooking chicken.

  2. Make paillards:

    Step 3

    Cook cumin, paprika, and pepper in oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, reserving skillet for sauce (do not clean). Brush some spiced oil on 1 side of each paillard, then sprinkle with some salt. Arrange 2 paillards in grill pan, oiled sides down, and brush tops with some of spiced oil, then sprinkle with some salt. Grill 2 minutes, then turn over and grill until just cooked through, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil. Grill remaining paillards in same manner, transferring to platter.

  3. Finish sauce:

    Step 4

    Pour sauce through a medium-mesh sieve into reserved small skillet, discarding solids. Add any juices from chicken accumulated on platter to sauce and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, then add butter and swirl skillet until butter is just incorporated. Season sauce with salt and spoon over chicken.

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