Chicken with Garlic

One of Spago’s original recipes, this dish is still on the restaurant’s menu today.

Serves 4

2 bulbs garlic

¼ cup finely chopped Italian parsley

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 chicken breasts, deboned with skin intact

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Place the garlic bulbs in a saucepan and add water to cover, about ½ a cup. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and drain. Peel the garlic and cut each clove into very thin slices. Toss in a bowl with the parsley, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Loosen the skin on the chicken and stuff about 2 tbsp. of the garlic mixture between the skin and the meat of each breast. Reserve the remaining garlic mixture.

3. Grill the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until the flesh is no longer pink in the center.

4. Heat the butter in a skillet, then add the reserved garlic mixture and sauté for a few minutes. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Heat through. Place the chicken on a platter and spoon the garlic sauce over it.