Roasted Chicken Breast with Spicy Passion Fruit Sauce – 2022 Red Carpet Menu for Oscar®!
It’s the 2022 Red Carpet Menu for Oscar®! For West Side Story, it’s Breast Side Story!
We are LOVING the main course for our Mid-Century Dinner Party!
Passion is the fashion when we are focusing on the modern and post-modern take on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story. Steven Spielberg took on the classic (mid-century – ahem) 1961 film and twisted it just enough to make it fresh and exciting to watch. There was something about the way it was shot… it felt of the time when the original was made, but the light and space afforded it made it feel fresh and new. Choreography- stellar! Flawless! Wonderful. And let’s hear it for Rita Moreno! The original film’s Maria comes back to play a new part and make a delightful impact on the story. Rita is a story all on her own. It was insane that she was back and doing such a great job. She’s just excellent. Case closed!
So now is time for true confessions. Yes, this was a fabulous success. But… I am not and never have been over the moon for West Side Story in any form. It’s terribly depressing. And you know how it’s going down upon the first glimpse of the first scene! Lordie! I also don’t buy in to a deep die-for love in 24 hours. Do I sound cynical? Well I guess I am. I like a love story that shows the love grow. And that is why this dish has more passion than the movie! It’s a true love story where simple ingredients and one unexpected fruit purée create a flavor that is so astounding, you will fall more deeply in love with each bite.
I knew what I wanted to make. My first thought was West Slide Story and I was going to do a pulled pork slider (yum) but that didn’t relate back nor did it fit in with the other dishes. As I decided on chicken, I still wasn’t quite sure how to bring it back to the actual movie when a Verizon repairman named Jose Soto came in to my office, having completed his work. I mentioned my dilemma and he gave it a moment and suggested PASSION fruit! Wooo hoooooo! I just love when things work out like that.
Then it was on to research what might complement the flavor yet give it zing. And HONEY, I found the ingredient that gave it the perfect balance. Upon the first flavor note hitting your tongue, it takes a moment to figure out where it wants to land. And then you “need” another bite and then another… it’s named Passion Fruit for a reason! Truly! Ever since I created this dish, I always have passion fruit purée in my freezer. I like to be ready in a flash to make this again and again.
I can’t recommend this dish enough. It’s really so unexpected and delightful. Let’s leave off with a little riff on Tonight: One bite, one bite… won’t be like any bite… this bite will be one filled with the sun…. Haha!
Happy Oscars!
Annette
Roasted Chicken Breast with Spicy Passion Fruit Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 whole boneless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 14 oz passion fruit purée
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1-1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in an oven safe skillet on medium heat. Add chicken breasts. After 5 minutes, turn and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Place skillet in a 375° oven for 30 minutes.
- Using a non-stick saucepan, stir in passion fruit purée, honey, lime juice, red chili pepper flakes, salt & pepper over medium heat and bringing to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- After 30 minutes, remove skillet from oven, brush both sides of each piece of chicken with sauce, and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°. Remove from oven and place chicken on a cutting board to rest.
- Add remaining sauce to the skillet over medium heat, stirring to deglaze the pan. Bring to a boil and lower heat to simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Brush chicken with sauce and serve with sauce on the side.
