Potato Crusted Chicken with Olives And Red Wine

2 large russet potatoes, about 1 pound
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 chicken breasts, skin off and boneless, about 1 pound
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons chopped shallots
1/4 cup pitted Greek Calamata olives, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup dry red wine with dark rich color (such as syrah)
1/2 cup chicken stock
6 basil leaves, washed and julienned, up to 8

Preheat an oven to 425 degrees.

Wash and peel the potatoes. Fill a bowl with cold water and slice the potatoes into paper thin slices on an Asian vegetable slicer or on the wide slicer of a cheese grater. Put the cut potato into the ice water and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon each of oil and butter in a large saute pan. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and add to the hot pan. Brown the chicken to a light golden color over moderately high heat. Turn the chicken to brown the second side, then remove the breasts from the pan, place in an oven proof dish and set aside.

Add the shallots to the hot pan and saute for 1 minute. Stir the olives into the shallots, add the wine, and cook for 1 minute before adding the chicken stock. Cook for 1 minute and then turn off the heat.

Drain the potatoes and dry on paper towels. Toss the potatoes in a bowl, with the remaining olive oil, making sure they are evenly coated, and season with salt and pepper. Wrap each chicken breast completely in sliced potato. Overlap the slices across the width of the chicken.

Place the potato wrapped chicken into the oven and roast for 12 to 14 minutes or until the potato has cooked to a crisp golden brown and the chicken is fully cooked but still moist.

As the chicken finishes cooking, reheat the sauce, cook for 6 to 7 minutes then add the basil.

Swirl in the remaining butter and spoon around the chicken.

Serve with fried spinach leaves.

Yield: 4 servings
Source: Michael Lomonaco 1997 MICHAEL'S PLACE SHOW #ML1B20