Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Medeira Sauce

Directions

Arrange the chicken breasts skin side down on a cutting board, making sure the skin is evenly stretched over the breasts.

Remove the fillet strip from each breast, discard the white tendon, and in a food processor grind the fillets.

Add the ice, blend the mixture until the piece is absorbed, and with the motor running add the cream.

Add the spinach, the salt, the fennel seeds, the rind, the nutmeg, and the pepper and blend the filling well, scraping down the sides.

Turn the breasts skin side up and beginning at the pointed end pull the skin back carefully, leaving the thin transparent membranes attached along at the opposite end.

Spread 3 tablespoons of the spinach filling evenly over each breast, smoothing it, and stretch the skin over the filling for another use such as miniature quenelles made by poaching small balls of it in clear soup.

Chill the chicken, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for one hour.

In a large ove n proof skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking, add the chicken, skin side down, and season it with salt and pepper.

Sauté the chicken for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown, turn it skin side up, and bake it, covered, in a preheated 400℉ (200℃). oven for 10 minutes.

Transfer the chicke n to a cutting board and let it stand, covered loosely with foil, for 5 minutes.

Make the sauce while the chicken is standing: pour off the fat from the skillet, add the Madeira, and boil it, scraping up the brown bits, until it is reduced to about 2 tablespoons.

Add the broth an d boil the mixture, stirring for 1 minute.

Stir the arrowroot mixture, add it to the skillet, whisking, for 1 minute.

Holding a knife at a 45 degree angle slice the chicken crosswise and arrange the slices, overlapping them slightly, on 4 heated plates.