Provolone & Pancetta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

1 tsp. plus 1 1/2 cups olive oil
6 oz. pancetta, cut into 1/4" dice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh sage
5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, each about 8 oz., pounded 1/2" thick
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 egg whites, lightly beaten
3 1/2 cups toasted bread crumbs

In a frying pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 teaspoon of oil. Cook pancetta until crispy. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Drain on paper towels. Transfer pancetta mixture to small bowl; stir in sage.

Create a pocket in each chicken breast. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Stuff each breast with 2 tablespoons of cheese and 1 tablespoon pancetta mixture. Set chicken on wire rack-lined baking sheet; place in freezer for 5 minutes.

Put flour, egg whites and bread crumbs in separate breading pans. Dredge chicken in flour, then dip into egg whites and coat evenly with bread crumbs, pressing so they adhere. Set chicken on wire rack-lined baking sheet; refrigerate for 15 minutes.

In wide pan over high heat, heat 1 1/2 cups of oil. Fry chicken in batches, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn chicken; reduce head to medium. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. Add more oil if necessary. Drain on paper towels.

Serves 5

I found this delicious recipe in a Williams-Sonoma catalog.