Chicken in Silver Paper

A yummy recipe from Mary Jeanne. A bit fiddly but you can do everything ahead so makes a great dish for a dinner party.


Chicken Sealed in Silver Paper


2 tsp minced ginger root
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup mango chutney (I use that Major Grey's brand) or apricot preserves
2 tsp cider vinegar
4 tsps melted butter
1/4 tsp crushed hot pepper flakes


4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (two whole breasts cut in half and the odd little yucky parts removed)

1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

1 cup thinly sliced leeks (wash well as leeks can be very sandy)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and slivered
16 snow peas, slivered

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Cut 4 sheets of foil each about 1 foot square.


Stir together first six ingredients

Divide leeks equally, placing one portion in the center of each foil square.

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper and place on top of leeks.

Spread 1/4 of the chutney/ginger root/etc. mixture on top of each breast.

Sprinkle the slivered pepper and snow peas on top of chicken and season with a bit more salt and pepper.

Put the baking sheet (cookie tin) in the preheated oven for 2 minutes.

While the tin is heating, lift the edges of the foil squares and double fold each open edge to enclose chicken. Seal edges well!

You can make an hour or so ahead up to this point and put in fridge until ready to cook.

Set pouches on heated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand without opening for 5 minutes.

Place each pouch on dinner plate and let each guest open his or her own.

Serve with rice or couscous and a little more of the mango chutney.