Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare orzo according to package directions. Stir in butter and parsley. Keep warm
- Sprinkle chicken with ½ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper; dust chicken with flour.
- In large frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken and sauté about 5 minutes or until browned.
- Add garlic and sauté 10 seconds. Add 1 cup of the chicken stock and boil 1 minute, stirring to scrap up brown bits. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes
- Add remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Increase heat to high and add remaining cup of chicken stock, vinegar, and capers.
- Cook about 8 minutes, stirring until consistency is syrupy.
- Place orzo on serving platter, top with chicken mixture, sprinkle with feta cheese and garnish with pear slices.
Italian Inspired Meals
This delicious Mediterranean Chicken Messina is a delicious chicken and orzo recipe mixed with a sweet and savory balance of balsamic vinegar, capers, feta and pears.
If you want to try more meals using Italian ingredients, prepare a rich and creamy risotto dish. If you’re wondering what rice is best for risotto? RiceSelect® has the perfect option - Arborio Rice. However, if you're looking for other Mediterranean options such as Israeli couscous but you're wondering if pearl couscous is Gluten Free, the answer is yes! Find out more about this variety on our product page.
What are Capers?
Native to the Mediterranean, Capers are small, pickled flower buds that are used in many different dishes. Harvested from a shrub called Capparis spinosa, the buds are dried and pickled in a solution of vinegar, water, and salt. The pickling process is very important, as it gives the capers their taste, and helps keep them preserved for a long time.
What Dishes Go Well with Capers?
Capers have a distinct tangy flavor that offers a burst of salty sourness to your dish. They add an interesting texture and depth of flavor to many pastas, sauces, salads, and meat dishes. Their acidity makes them pair well with rich or fatty foods, and you find them included in many Mediterranean dishes.
The Complexities of Balsamic Vinegar
Made from grape must and sometimes aged up to 25 years or more in wood barrels, Balsamic has a specific flavor. Originating in Italy, making traditional balsamic is a craft that requires a time consuming process that can be tweaked to get different flavor notes to shine through in the final product.
Real Vs Fake
Today, balsamic is produced in many parts of the world and is available in most stores, however most options you find will not be the real deal.
Legitimate balsamic vinegar will have a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) certification and the ingredient list should only contain grape must and wine vinegar. A bottle of real balsamic will be sold at a premium price point, as it is likely imported from Italy and has been aged for a long time in the traditional process.
Other Meal Inspiration
If you are looking for something else to make, learn how to prepare this baked curry salmon, you can also make this Israeli couscous dish.
