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Home » Recipes » Dinner » Chicken

September 29, 2020

Tuscan Chicken with Saffron Cream Sauce (Authentic Recipe)

Published September 29, 2020 | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

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Chicken breasts cooked in a creamy saffron sauce with spinach deserves a place on your table! Explore the flavours of Tuscany through this delicious and very easy chicken recipe.

Add our Tuscan Panzanella Salad for an authentic feast! 

top down view of chicken breasts in cream sauce with spinach in black pan

Authentic Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Am I the only one who has a freezer full of chicken breasts? No? You are the same? Well I’ve got great news because today I am bringing you a delicious recipe, which comes from Tuscany. It is so incredibly simple and quick to make! No more than 30 minutes from start to finish. 

This chicken recipe is inspired by a Tuscan cookbook, that was given to me years ago. It’s called Beaneaters and Bread Soup, Portraits and Recipes from Tuscany by Lori de Mori and Jason Lowe.  I’ve taken the main idea from it but changed the recipe slightly to adapt to our taste. 

This recipe is truly special mostly because of the creamy saffron sauce, that brings a unique taste and a gorgeous colour to the dish. 

saffron cream sauce close up with chicken breasts

How to Make It

There are 4 easy steps involved in the process. 

  • Infuse the cream with saffron
  • Brown the chicken breasts
  • Make the sauce and simmer the chicken breasts in it for 15 minutes. 
  • Add the spinach at the very end4 stages of the Tuscan Chicken cooking process

Creamy Saffron Sauce

As I mentioned earlier, the sauce is absolutely the star of this recipe. The main flavour and the stunning hue come from the saffron threads, which are used to infuse the cream. 

Although not in the authentic recipe I’ve also added 2 cloves of garlic and spinach to the sauce. The sauce is thickened with flour but you can use cornstarch if you follow a gluten free diet.

There is also a full cup (250ml) of white wine, which gives this creamy sauce an acidity it needs to balance it out. If you prefer to leave the wine out, substitute with 1 cup of apple juice plus 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar. 

Despite featuring a slightly exotic ingredient like saffron, this sauce is very straightforward to make and very quick. Besides chicken, it is also delicious when served with fish, prawns or scallops. 

cream infused with saffron thread before and after images

What to Serve with this Italian Chicken Recipe

I know that the first thing that comes to mind is pasta. Italians would absolutely disapprove as this would be considered a second course. However, let’s throw caution to the wind do what feels right. This year we’ve had enough restrictions put on our lives. Let’s not add another one! 

Plain rice, mashed potatoes, polenta or oven roasted potatoes are all great accompaniments to this tender and juicy chicken breast.  

I would also serve some good quality crusty bread alongside. It’s perfect for the sauce!

chicken breast with yellow cream sauce and spinach on beige plate, fork and glass of white wine

Favourite Italian Chicken Recipes to try:

  • Best Chicken Marsala
  • Italian Rosemary Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Venetian Chicken Ragu
saffron cream sauce close up with chicken breasts

Tuscan Chicken with Saffron Cream Sauce

Julia Frey of Vikalinka
Chicken breasts cooked in creamy saffron sauce with spinach deserves a place on your table!
4.67 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cook Time 28 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 643 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 350ml/1 ½ cups single cream/heavy cream
  • 1 tsp saffron threads
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
  • salt and pepper
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 250ml/1 cup dry white wine
  • 30g/1 cup spinach

Instructions
 

  • Infuse the cream with saffron by gently heating it in a saucepan for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, brown them in olive oil on both sides until golden but not cooked all the way through for approximately 3-5 minutes on each side, remove to a separate plate and set aside till needed.
  • Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the pan, then minced garlic and cook over low heat for 20-30 seconds, then add the flour and mix until you have a paste. Deglaze the pan with white wine and let it reduce for 5 minutes. Then add the chicken back to the pan together with the infused cream, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Add spinach and simmer for 5 minutes longer. Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed.

Notes

If you choose to leave the wine out, use the same amount of apple juice + 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar instead. 

Nutrition

Calories: 643kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 51gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 242mgSodium: 301mgPotassium: 1007mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1657IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 1mg
Keyword saffron cream sauce, tuscan chicken
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
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Julia from Vikalinka

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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