Best 5 Involtini Recipes

VEAL INVOLTINI

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread bread crumbs in a shallow baking pan and toast, stirring once or twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Gently pound veal cutlets to slightly less than 1/8 inch thick between 2 sheets of plastic wrap with flat side of a meat pounder or with a rolling pin, then cut into roughly 4- by 3-inch pieces.
• Stir together parsley, garlic, 3/4 cup cheese, 1/4 cup oil, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until a paste forms.
• Stir together bread crumbs, remaining 1/2 cup cheese, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Season cutlets lightly with salt and pepper and spread 1 side of each piece with 1 teaspoon parsley-garlic paste.
• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Roll up veal pieces (paste sides up), starting from a short side. Put remaining cup oil in a bowl and dip each roll in it, letting excess drip off, then dredge in bread-crumb mixture, pressing gently to help crumbs adhere. Transfer to baking sheet.
• Thread 1 veal roll onto a skewer, then 1 piece of onion, leaving about 1/4 inch between. Repeat on same skewer 2 more times, then transfer skewer to baking sheet. Assemble 6 more skewers in same manner (last skewer will have only 2 rolls).
• Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 1 to 2 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately high.
• Grill veal on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, turning over once, until rolls are golden, about 6 minutes total.
• Remove veal and onion from skewers and serve immediately.

INVOLTINI DI POLLO (STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place each chicken breast half between two sheets of waxed paper.
• Using a meat mallet or the dull side of a cleaver blade, press down and then push out from the center of each breast half, flattening it out evenly. Do not overpound or the breasts will break apart.
• To make the stuffing: soak the bread in the stock until it is softened, two to three minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the green onions and sautee, until softened but not browned, about three minutes. Place the green onions in a mixing bowl.
• Squeeze the excess stock from the bread; discard the stock.
• Add the bread to the bowl, along with the sage, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Taste for seasoning.
• Place a slice of ham on each of the flattened chicken breast halves.
• Divide the bread stuffing between the two breasts, spreading it over the ham.
• Roll up each breast from a narrow end; the opposite end should remain uncovered and slightly overlap the roll.
• Tuck in any stuffing that may have leaked out of the ends; the ham slice will prevent stuffing from leaking out of the center of the chicken roll.
• Using cotton kitchen string, tie the rolls closed in the same fashion that a roast is laced. Toothpicks can be used to fasten the ends securely.
• Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, dredge the chicken rolls in the flour and set aside.
• When the skillet is hot enough to make the chicken rolls sizzle, add them.
• Brown on all sides for no longer than five minutes. Prolonged sauteing will toughen the delicate breast meat. To turn the rolls, gently slide a spatula under them to prevent rupturing.
• Transfer the sauteed breast rolls to a casserole just large enough to accommodate them, but with enough room to keep them from touching.
• Set the skillet aside for later deglazing.
• Pour the stock over the breasts, cover tightly, and place in the preheated oven.
• Bake until the breasts are just cooked through but still juicy, 20 to 25 minutes (it took me 40 minutes for the chicken to be fully cooked).
• Remove from the oven, and transfer the rolls to a cutting board, reserving the liquid in the casserole.
• Remove the string and toothpicks and let stand for five to ten minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the pan drippings that remain in the skillet in which the breasts were sauteed.
• Add 1/2 cup of the stock from the casserole and bring to a simmer, using a wooden spoon to dislodge any bits stuck to the pan bottom.
• Add the wine and continue to simmer to evaporate the alcohol.
• Taste for salt.
• Cut each of the stuffed breasts crosswise into five or six slices and arrange on a serving platter. Pour the hot pan juices over them.

BEEF INVOLTINI WITH GRAPE TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add anchovies and stir until they begin to dissolve. Add sliced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add grape tomatoes and crushed tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, mix sage, rosemary and minced garlic in a small bowl. Lay a slice of beef on a work surface. Sprinkle a little herb mixture on top, and season with salt and pepper. Starting with a short end, roll up, tucking in sides; transfer to a large plate. Repeat with remaining meat.
• In another skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season meat rolls with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown them all over, about 30 seconds per side; transfer to tomato sauce.
• Stir parsley into sauce and cook over medium heat until involtini are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon involtini and sauce into a shallow bowl or plates, and serve with fettuccine.

INVOLTINI DI POLLO ALLA SALVIA (CHICKEN ROULADES WITH SAGE)

Steps:

• Once you have thinly pounded out your chicken breasts, cut each breast into two strips {slightly wider than your bacon slices}. Season chicken strips with salt and pepper.
• Place 2 sage leaves onto each strip of chicken. Roll chicken strips. Roll bacon over chicken roll and secure with toothpicks. Continue until all pieces are rolled.
• Into a frying pan add olive oil and heat over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add chicken roulades and cook, turning frequently, until bacon has brown/crisped on all sides. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for approximately 10-15 minutes until chicken has cooked through {cooking time will depend on thickness of chicken}.

INVOLTINI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place a ridged cast-iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brush eggplant slices on both sides with olive oil and cook, turning, until soft and (if using a ridged pan) crisscrossed with grid marks. Set aside and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine feta, pine nuts, raisins, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, bread crumbs, garlic, lemon zest, mint and parsley. Mix in egg, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread eggplant slices on a surface, and divide stuffing evenly among them, placing 1 to 2 tablespoons at one end of each slice. Roll up slices tightly to secure filling, and place in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (or other shallow baking pan in which rolls fit snugly in a single layer).
• Pour crushed tomatoes on top of eggplant rolls. Arrange mozzarella slices in a line lengthwise down center of pan. Drizzle olive oil evenly over pan, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bake until cheese has melted and eggplant is bubbling and fragrant, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.