Chicken Cordon Bleu with Mornay Sauce

Let’s set the record straight: The Paris-based cooking school has nothing to do with this dish. The specific origins remain a bit of a mystery, but the original (with veal) is likely a cousin in Germany’s schnitzel family, and may have originated in Austria. Taste the ham and cheese before you start; overly salty or smoky versions of either can overwhelm this dish. Secure the chicken parcels by threading a trussing needle with string and sew up the sides, or tie with butcher twine; toothpicks work in a pinch. My sister began adding a cheese sauce to the proceedings man years ago, so I’ve paired this with a very simple Mornay Sauce. Pairs well with simply prepared green beans, broccoli or asparagus and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Mornay Sauce

Kathleen Flinn

Easy, yet elegant. To mix things up, you can add in some spinach or sliced asparagus (as in the photo above). I often use panko in place of breadcrumbs.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Cuisine French

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

• 4 Chicken breasts about 6 ounces (170 grams) each
• Coarse salt ground black pepper
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 4 slices Swiss cheese preferably Gruyère (about 2-3 ounces)
• 4 slices very thinly sliced prosciutto or ham (about 2 ounces)
• 2 eggs beaten slightly
• 1 cup about 100g seasoned breadcrumbs
• ½ cup 125 ml dry white wine
• 1 cup 250 ml chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup 250 ml cold milk or cream
• Salt pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons grated Swiss cheese preferably Gruyère

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350° F / 175° C. Butterfly the chicken breasts using a sharp knife to carefully cut into one side until it opens like a book. Season the interior with salt and pepper, and coat with 1 teaspoon mustard. Top with a slice of cheese, then a slice of prosciutto or ham. Close and secure with string or toothpicks. Dredge this chicken preparation in flour, then dip in the beaten egg, and then roll in breadcrumbs. Repeat for the other breasts. Bake in a dish atop parchment paper or foil for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the parcels are firm to the touch, and juices running from the chicken are clear and no longer pink, or a thermeter reaches 180° F/80° C.
• Heat the wine in a saucepan over high heat and reduce by half. Add the stock, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Keep warm until ready to add to the below sauce. (Don’t skip this step, your sauce will break.)
• In another saucepan, make a roux by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbly. Whisk in the flour and continue to whisk for eight to 10 minutes, until it smells like popcorn. Add the cold milk and whisk in completely. Whisk in the wine-stock mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add in the grated cheese and stir until melted through. Adjust consistency by adding more stock if sauce is too thick.
• Remove the string from the chicken. Top with the sauce.