Chicken with Cherry Wine Pan Sauce

Chicken with Cherry-Wine Pan Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts (about 1-1/2lbs)
• extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
• salt and pepper
• 2 Tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 cup red wine like Cabernet
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 12oz fresh or frozen pitted sweet cherries NOT sour cherries (if frozen, do not thaw)
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Directions

1. Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness then brush both sides with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat (6/10) then add chicken and saute until no longer pink, 3-4 minutes a side. Remove to a plate then tent with foil to keep warm.
2. Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in same skillet then add shallots and saute until tender, 2 minutes. Add wine, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and fresh cherries, if using, then simmer until sauce is reduced by nearly half, 3-4 minutes. If using frozen cherries, add now with thyme then continue to reduce sauce until slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes, pressing down on cherries gently with the back of a wooden spoon.
3. Remove skillet from heat then stir in remaining Tablespoon butter and lemon juice. Spoon over chicken breasts then serve.