TGI Friday's Bruschetta Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts

• 4 (4 ounce) chicken breasts
• Salt
• Black pepper

Garlic Bread

• 1/2 cup (1 stick butter)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Pasta

• 1 pound angel hair pasta (can cook and chill ahead of time)
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1/2 gallon salted water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (If cooked ahead of time)

Tomato Salad (Step 1)

• 6 to 8 medium size Roma tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 10 fresh basil leaves

Tomato Salad (Step 2)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Remaining garlic butter
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced into thin coins

Tomato Salad (Step 3)

• 1/2 cup plain tomato sauce
• Pasta
• Balsamic glaze, for garnish

Balsamic Glaze

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions

Chicken Breasts

1. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and black pepper.
2. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side for grill marks or until the chicken breasts reach 165 degrees F (recommended cooking on a seasoned grill). Grill right before serving.

Garlic Bread

1. Melt butter in microwave and stir to combine seasonings. Drizzle your favorite bread with garlic butter and bake at 350 degrees F until crispy and golden brown (approximately 4 minutes)

Pasta

1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and transfer to bowl. If cooking ahead of time, shock in an ice bath to cool, remove from water and toss with salad oil.

Tomato Salad

1. Wash, core and dice tomatoes to 1/4-inch pieces, save juices and place in small bowl. Wash, dry and cut basil leaves into thin strips. Combine all ingredients and hold for 2 hours before use.
2. Heat heavy bottom saucepan under medium-low flame. Add olive oil, heat oil for 20 seconds. Add any remaining garlic butter from bread to saucepan. Sauté cloves of garlic, that are sliced into thin coins, in oil (if small use 3) for 45 seconds on each side until soft and tender - do not brown garlic (if brown discard and start over). Increase heat and add tomato salad and stir.
3. Add plain tomato sauce to pan and bring to a boil. Add pasta to sauce pan and toss with fresh sauce (sauce should just coat pasta). Transfer to a service platter or plate individually. Garnish with balsamic glaze.

Balsamic Glaze

1. Bring to a boil in small pan and turn down flame to a simmer Reduce by 75% until sauce turns to a thick syrup. Hold at room temperature.

To serve

1. Slice chicken breast into strips on a bias (45 degree angle) and place on top of pasta.
2. Slice 5 fresh basil leaves into thin strips and garnish pasta.