Chicken Toscana with White Beans

Delicate chicken soaks in the flavor of fresh puréed aromatic herbs, which releases intense flavor and aroma when sautéed. Pull the tender herb leaves from the oregano, tarragon, basil, and rosemary stalks before pureeing. The natural starch of the white beans will lightly thicken the sauce. This dish can be enjoyed hot from the pan, at room temperature or chilled the day after cooking. It also makes a flavorful sandwich filling stuffed into a loaf of semolina bread and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. From The Whole Foods Market Cookbook

Ingredients

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons cup lemon juice
4 sprigs fresh oregano leaves
4 sprigs fresh tarragon leaves
4 sprigs fresh basil leaves
4 sprigs fresh parsley
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups cooked white cannellini beans
Sea salt, to taste
Ground pepper, to taste

Method

To prepare the marinade, in the bowl of a food processor or blender, place olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, leaves of oregano, tarragon, basil, parsley, rosemary, and pepper. Blend all ingredients well until a smooth bright green paste is formed. You may add a few spoonfuls of water to help this process if mixture looks too thick. You may also make marinade using an immersion blender. Marinate cubed chicken in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight if possible. Heat olive oil in a large pan over moderate heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add cubed chicken, and allow to brown lightly without stirring initially. Begin turning chicken after 3 minutes, and add onion. Sauté for 2 minutes, until onion begins to soften. Add beans and continue to cook for 2 minutes longer, until chicken is cooked through and a light sauce forms around chicken pieces. Season with the salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 9oz/255g-wt.):
Calories: 370 (160 from fat)
Fat: 18g (sat 2.5g)
Protein: 38g
Carbohydrate: 12g (Dietary Fiber 3g, 1g Sugar)
Cholesterol: 90mg
Sodium: 430mg