Balsamic Chicken With Pears

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 6 (3 -4 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 2 medium pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 cup chicken broth, low sodium and organic preferred
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup dried tart cherry

Recipe

• 1 pat chicken dry with paper towels.
• 2 one at a time, place the chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap.
• 3 using a meat mallet, carefully pound the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness of approximately 1/2-inch.
• 4 season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• 5 in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil.
• 6 when the oil is hot, add the chicken and saute, turning once, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• 7 remove from heat and transfer to a platter, cover, and keep warm.
• 8 to the same pan, add the shallot and saute over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until soft; decrease heat to medium and add the pears.
• 9 continue sauteing, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes, until the pears are soft and golden brown.
• 10 to prepare the sauce, combine chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
• 11 pour over the pear mixture; add the cherries. increase heat to high and simmer, stirring frequently for 6 to 8 minutes or until the sauce thicksn slightly.
• 12 return the chicken and any juices to the pan. bring the mixture back to a simmer; decrease heat to medium.
• 13 cook for 10 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees f (juices will run clear when cut with the tip of a knife).
• 14 taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. remove chicken from heat.
• 15 place the chicken on individual serving plates or on a large platter.
• 16 using a slotted spoon, mound the fruit over the top.
• 17 spoon the sauce over the fruit and around the chicken.
• 18 serve immediately.