High-Protein Creamy Chicken in Cepa de Apio Baskets

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 45

Servings:

Author: Gaila - Strength & Sazón

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Shredded chicken breast in a cottage cheese sofrito sauce, served in roasted cepa de apio (celery root) baskets with a Parmesan crust. Low-carb, high-protein, Dominican Constanza style.

Ingredients

For the baskets::

2 large cepa de apio celery root, peeled and sliced into 1.5-inch rounds (4 rounds per person = 8 large rounds total)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and black pepper

For the creamy filling:

2 cups cooked chicken breast Cubed
3 tablespoon homemade sofrito
2 garlic cloves minced
1 cup full-fat cottage cheese blended smooth
½ cup high-protein milk
1 teaspoon cornstarch
½ cup queso blanco crumbled
¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
1 teaspoon butter
Salt pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg

Toppings:

½ cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

Roast the baskets: preheat oven to 400F (200C). Arrange cepa de apio rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Roast 20-25 minutes until golden at the edges and tender when pierced. Remove and use the back of a spoon to gently press a small well in the center of each round.
Make the sauce: blend cottage cheese, milk, and cornstarch completely smooth in a blender. In a pan, heat butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sofrito, cook 2 minutes. Pour in the cottage cheese blend. Simmer 4-5 minutes stirring constantly until thickened. Add a pinch of nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
Add chicken: fold chicken and crumbled queso blanco into the sauce. Stir to combine. Add parsley.
Fill and gratinée: spoon the chicken filling generously into each cepa de apio well. Top with Parmesan. Broil on high for 3-4 minutes until golden.
Rest 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

Cepa de apio requires firm peeling - the exterior is tough and knobbly. Use a sharp paring knife rather than a peeler. The rounds must be at least 1.5 inches thick to hold the filling after pressing - thinner rounds will crack under the filling weight.

Nutrition

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