Chicken Divan

Adapted from: Skinny Taste

Neither of us have ever had this French cuisine-inspired dish before, but it sounded great when I came across it while recipe hunting. Having the broccoli in there as a vibrant green didn't hurt either, since it is St. Pat's Day and we're both all for being festive on holidays! The sauce turned out great, nice and cheesy, and it filled up our kitchen with tempting smells of white wine, parmesan, garlic, and shallots as it baked in the oven. Outcome: it was every bit as good as it smelled. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb broccoli (1 12 oz steamable bag or 2 large heads), chopped
• 12 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 18 oz cooked)
• salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp shallots, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/8 cup white wine
• 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat swiss cheese
• 1/8 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/8 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• cooking spray

Directions:

Microwave a steamable bag of broccoli for about one minute under the recommended time, then remove from bag and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

*Note: if you're using fresh broccoli, you will need to "blanch" it in boiling water for three minutes and rinse with cold water immediately to stop the cooking. I had never heard of blanching, but here's a helpful article that explains it: learn how to blanch.

Preheat oven to 350°. Use cooking spray to lightly coat a 8x8-inch baking dish.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. On medium-low heat, saute the chicken until browned, and just about cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat and transfer to a cutting board. When cooled, cut chicken into bite-size pieces.

Add butter and oil to a skillet on medium heat. Once melted, add garlic and shallots. Sprinkle the flour and stir until smooth. Mix in broth, milk, and wine. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and mix in half of the swiss cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange the broccoli in a casserole dish and pour half of the sauce over the broccoli. Arrange the chicken on top and cover with remaining sauce. Top with the remaining swiss cheese, parmesan, and breadcrumbs. Spray a little oil on top and it's ready for the oven!

Bake 30 minutes and serve.

Yield: 3 servings