Elegant Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine Recipe for Gourmet Feasts

Jamie Oliver’s chicken ballotine elevates home cooking from mundane to magnificent with its elegant culinary magic.

This rolled poultry masterpiece transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy sensation.

Precise techniques turn basic chicken into an impressive centerpiece that sparks conversation.

Tender meat gets carefully layered with vibrant herbs and seasonings.

Skilled cooks can recreate this gourmet delight without professional training.

The combination of textures and flavors promises a memorable dining experience.

You’ll fall in love with this showstopping dish that looks complicated but comes together surprisingly easily.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 380 kcal

Servings: 4

Chicken Ballotine Ingredients by Jamie Oliver

• Onion, Carrot, Garlic: Select firm, fresh vegetables with vibrant colors and no soft spots for maximum flavor depth.

• Chicken Legs: Choose high-quality, organic chicken with smooth, unblemished skin and firm meat texture.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Opt for freshly ground pepper and pure kosher salt for robust, clean seasoning.

• Cooking Oil: Select a neutral oil with high smoke point like canola or vegetable oil for smooth rack preparation.
• Parchment Paper: Use unwaxed, non-stick parchment paper to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.

Tools for Crafting Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine

• Large Skillet: Essential for sautéing vegetables with even heat distribution.
• Sharp Paring Knife: Perfect for precise cutting and deboning chicken legs.
• Food Processor: Helps quickly and evenly grind meat mixture.
• Cutting Board: Provides clean surface for preparing and wrapping chicken.
• Baking Sheet: Sturdy base for cooking chicken ballotines.
• Oven-Safe Rack: Allows air circulation for crispy chicken skin.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Quick-Read Thermometer: Ensures chicken reaches safe internal temperature.
• Cooking Oil Brush: Helps lightly grease rack and prevent sticking.

Jamie Oliver’s Chicken Ballotine Steps

• Build Flavor Foundation

Sizzle diced aromatics in a skillet until they soften and release their rich essence. Let the vegetable medley cool completely, creating a flavor base that will elevate the entire dish.

• Prepare Chicken Canvas

Skillfully separate chicken skin from meat, keeping the delicate skin intact. Gently remove the bone while preserving the meat’s beautiful structure. Transform the leg into a blank culinary canvas ready for transformation.

• Craft Savory Filling

Pulse chicken meat with the cooled vegetable mixture in a food processor. Create a smooth, well-blended filling that promises incredible taste and texture. Season with a perfect balance of salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavors.

• Wrap and Shape Culinary Treasure

Spread chicken skins flat and carefully distribute the meat mixture. Fold the skin with precision, creating elegant parcels that completely enclose the flavorful filling. Ensure each bundle is tightly sealed with no exposed meat.

• Roast to Perfection

Position the chicken bundles on a prepared rack in a hot oven. Bake until the skin turns gloriously golden and crispy, and the internal temperature signals safe, delicious doneness. Watch as these culinary gems transform into a mouthwatering masterpiece that will impress and delight.

Tips for Making Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine

• Boost Your Ballotine Brilliance: Expert Cooking Tips
• Chill Before Rolling: Refrigerate meat mixture for 30 minutes before wrapping to help maintain structure and enhance flavor binding.
• Perfect Skin Technique: Gently stretch chicken skin with the back of a knife to create a thinner, more even surface for wrapping, ensuring crispy results.
• Temperature Precision: Use an instant-read thermometer to guarantee food safety and prevent overcooking, checking multiple spots for consistent doneness.
• Creative Filling Twists: Experiment with herb-infused mixtures like rosemary-thyme or add diced mushrooms for unexpected depth and complexity in your ballotine.

How to Present Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine

• Elevate Your Dining Experience: Serve these elegant chicken ballotines on a bed of creamy polenta or soft herbed risotto to complement their rich, crispy texture. The smooth base will perfectly contrast the golden-brown chicken skin.
• Garnish with Gourmet Flair: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or chives over the ballotines just before serving. These bright green herbs will add a pop of color and fresh herbaceous notes that cut through the dish's richness.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Match these sophisticated chicken parcels with a crisp, medium-bodied white wine like Pinot Grigio or an unoaked Chardonnay. The wine's acidity will beautifully balance the succulent meat and crispy skin.
• Create Stunning Plating: Slice ballotines diagonally and arrange them artfully on warmed plates. Add a small dollop of herb-infused aioli or mustard sauce on the side for an extra layer of flavor and visual appeal.

How to Store Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine Leftovers

• Preserve Freshness with Smart Storage
• Store leftover ballotines in airtight containers, keeping them refrigerated for up to 3 days. Wrap each piece individually to maintain optimal moisture and prevent flavor transfer.
• Freeze for Future Feasts
• Freeze uncooked ballotines by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap, then placing in freezer-safe bags. They'll stay delicious for 2-3 months, ready to thaw and bake whenever you crave a gourmet meal.
• Reheat with Precision
• Warm refrigerated ballotines in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F, preserving juicy texture and food safety.
• Meal Prep Magic
• Prepare ballotine meat mixture and skin wrapping up to 24 hours in advance. Store separately in the refrigerator, assembling and baking just before serving to guarantee maximum flavor and crispy skin.

Elegant Jamie Oliver Chicken Ballotine Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Jamie Oliver’s chicken ballotine showcases Italian culinary artistry with carefully rolled chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and herbs. Delicate flavors and precise techniques make this dish a gourmet experience you’ll savor with each elegant bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
• 1 shallot (medium, finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (medium, finely chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (medium, finely chopped)
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
• 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt (divided, plus more for seasoning skin)
• olive oil or vegetable oil (for brushing the rack)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Vegetable Preparation: Sauté onion, carrot, and garlic with kosher salt in a large skillet over medium-low heat until tender and translucent. Cool completely.
2. Chicken Deboning: Carefully separate chicken leg skin from meat, expose the bone, and remove it precisely without tearing the skin. Chop the deboned meat into substantial pieces.
3. Filling Creation: Combine chicken thigh meat, sautéed vegetables, salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Pulse until finely ground but not pureed, ensuring ingredient uniformity.
4. Ballotine Assembly: Lay chicken skins flat, divide meat mixture into portions, and centrally place on each skin. Fold skin edges to completely encase the filling, creating neat parcels.
5. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and position an oven-safe wire rack, lightly coated with cooking oil.
6. Roasting Process: Position wrapped chicken portions on the rack with sealed edges facing downward. Sprinkle additional salt and pepper over the skin surface.
7. Final Cooking: Roast for 25-30 minutes until skin turns golden and crispy, and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when checked with a quick-read thermometer.

Notes

• Master Skin Technique: Delicately separate chicken skin from meat without tearing, ensuring a perfect wrapper for the flavorful filling.
• Precise Seasoning Balance: Use exact salt measurements to enhance taste without overpowering the chicken’s natural flavors.
• Temperature Control Critical: Monitor oven heat and chicken’s internal temperature to achieve golden, crispy skin and fully cooked meat.
• Texture Matters: Pulse meat mixture carefully to maintain chunky consistency, avoiding over-processing which can make filling dense and rubbery.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 8g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 130mg