1 lb chicken breasts
10 oz. bacon
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
salt and pepper
1 lb fresh spinach
Cauliflower purée
4 garlic cloves
2 oz. butter
½ lb cauliflower
1⁄3 cup heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper
1Press the garlic cloves hard with the handle of a knife so they get slightly mashed. Peel off the skin. Butter-fry over medium heat until golden. Watch out—it can go from golden to burned in a flash, and burned garlic is bitter. Remove from heat and leave the garlic in the pan while you do the rest.
2Rinse and trim the cauliflower and divide into smaller florets. Cook in lightly salted water until tender. Remove the florets with a strainer ladle and reserve some of the water.
3Put the cauliflower in a blender or food processor together with the garlic cloves and the pan juices. The pan juices add additional flavor!
4Add the cream and purée until smooth. If needed you can add some of the reserved cooking water to the purée to make it thinner. Start with a few tablespoons of cooking water and add more if needed, until you reach the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5Wrap one or two slices of bacon around each chicken breast. Fry in oil or butter until the bacon turns a nice color. Keep frying in the pan over low heat or place in a hot oven (400°F/200°C) for 15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer if you're unsure; at 165°F (74°C) the chicken breast is ready.
6Remove the chicken from the pan and keep warm for a few minutes while you use the same pan to fry the spinach. Serve immediately with the purée.
Makes 4 Servings
Tip!
The purée is an excellent side dish for red meats such as pork, lamb and beef. If you're thinking about making it 100% vegetarian, you can also serve it with freshly cooked vegetables. The purée is also super delicious in casseroles with grated cheese.
Storing the dish
The purée can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to one month.