suemunzlinger's Recipe

Chicken Broccoli Braid

Category: Main Dish

2 medium sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 small head of broccoli, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, sliced or chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 tsp. dried dill
2 tsp. parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 sheets of puff pastry

Let the puff pastry thaw according to the package directions. While it is thawing, roast or poach the chicken.
Once the chicken is cooked, let it cool and cut into bite sized pieces. You want to end up with about two cups of cooked chicken.

Mix the chicken, broccoli, bell pepper, and grated cheese together in a mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, thoroughly mix the mayonnaise, dill, parsley and salt and pepper. Add the mayonnaise mixture to the chicken mixture and stir well, so all the bits are coated with the mayonnaise sauce.

When the puff pastry has thawed, press the two pieces together at the ends so you have one longer piece of puff pastry. Place the pastry on a baking sheet, and cut strips along each side, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart and three inches long, at an angle. Do not forget to put the pastry on the baking sheet BEFORE cutting the strips, because trying to move it onto a baking sheet later is challenging. Trust me on this one.

Braiding the Chicken

Fill the uncut middle part of the pastry with the chicken mixture. Then, working from the top, pull the strips across the filling, alternating sides to created a braid like lattice. Do not pull the strips too hard, because they will become too thin and will ot hold the filling in well. Be gentle with the puff pastry.

Unbaked Braid

Once you are all braided, bake at 375F for 25 to 28 minutes, or until the pastry is beginning to brown. Let it cool a bit before slicing.

Trader Joes has a great tasting puff pastry but if you do not shop there, most supermarkets have a couple different brands