Grilled Basil Chicken Sandwiches

Name: Grilled Basil Chicken Sandwiches
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 23 min
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients: 4 large basil leaves; 1 bunch fresh basil (*fresh* basil ONLY!); 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon aged balsamic vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4 chicken thighs, boned and skinless; 4 wide slices ciabatta; 1 heirloom tomato, cut into 4 slices

Submitted by COOKGIRl

"From the September issue of Sunset Magazine 2010. The only major change made was substituting chicken thighs."

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Ready In:: 23mins
Ingredients:: 10
Yields:: 4 sandwiches

ingredients

4 large basil leaves
1 bunch fresh basil (*fresh* basil ONLY!)
¹⁄₂ cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon aged balsamic vinegar
¹⁄₂ teaspoon kosher salt
¹⁄₂ teaspoon black pepper
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4 chicken thighs, boned and skinless
4 wide slices ciabatta
1 heirloom tomato, cut into 4 slices

directions

Heat grill to HIGH (450 degrees to 550 degrees). Note: I used a stove top grill pan to prepare the chicken.
Set aside 4 large basil leaves.
Combine the mayonnaise, remaining basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper in a mini-food processor. Process until smooth.
If using chicken breasts, cut each breast in half. Place each chicken breast (or thigh) between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until the pieces are 1/4-inch thick.
Grill chicken, basting each side with the basil-mayonnaise mixture, turning the the chicken pieces as needed until they are cooked through and well browned, approximately 8 minutes.
Brush one side of bread with a little bit of the basil-mayonnaise mixture; grill bread approximately 1 minute on both sides.
Place a chicken breast on the basil-mayonnaise side of the bread. Top each sandwich with a tomato slice and basil leaf.
Serve the remaining basil-mayonnaise on the side.
Serving suggestion: fresh corn on the cob and a simple mixed fruit salad (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and watermelon.).