Seared Italian Marinated Breast Of Chicken With Tomato And Basil - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Marinade and Chicken
1/2 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, split and trimmed
Sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
8 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lb ripe plum tomato, cored, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced, juices reserved
red pepper flakes (to taste)
salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup shredded fresh basil leaf

Preparation

To make the marinade, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, sage, and salt and pepper to taste.
Slice the chicken breasts on the diagonal into thirds. Using a large knife or cleaver, lightly pound each piece to flatten slightly. Place in a shallow glass or ceramic dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, turning occasionally.
To make the sauce, in a medium-sized saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over moderate heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, the red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in half of the basil leaves. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Drain the chicken, discarding the marinade. Add the chicken to the hot pan, without crowding, and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through. (Cook the chicken in batches or in 2 pans if necessary.) Transfer to a large, warm serving platter.
Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the tomato sauce and pour over the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining basil over the top and serve.
Note: Cook time does not reflect marinating time of at least 8 hours.