A breaded chicken breast with the best part hidden in the center. The outside turns golden and crisp while juicy chicken wraps around English-style ham and fully melted Edam cheese. A restaurant classic that works beautifully at home when the roll is sealed properly and the oven finishes the cooking without drying it out.
Turn what you find into an experience you can actually bring to your kitchen.
Divide the chicken breast into 4 fillets and butterfly each one. Place them between sheets of plastic wrap and pound from the center toward the edges until approximately 6 to 8 mm thick, taking care not to tear the meat. Season with most of the salt and all the black pepper, then spread a thin layer of mustard over the inside surface.
Divide the English-style ham and Edam cheese among the 4 fillets, leaving about 1.5 cm of clear space around the edges. Place the cheese over the ham so the ham helps contain it, fold the sides of the chicken slightly inward, and roll tightly. Wrap each roll firmly in plastic wrap, twisting the ends to compact it, and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Place the flour, the egg beaten with the remaining salt, and the breadcrumbs in separate containers. Remove the plastic wrap from the rolls and coat them first in flour, shaking off the excess, then in egg and breadcrumbs. To reinforce the seams, coat each roll in egg and breadcrumbs a second time, pressing gently until the entire surface is well covered.
Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat and brown the cordon bleu in batches for about 2 minutes per side, turning carefully until the crust is evenly golden all around. The oil should bubble steadily but never smoke. Transfer the rolls to a baking sheet.
Bake the cordon bleu for 8 to 10 minutes, until the chicken at the center beside the filling reaches 74°C / 165°F. Remove them from the oven and let them rest for 4 minutes before slicing; this allows the juices to settle and helps keep the cheese inside. Serve piping hot while the crust is still crisp and the center fully melted. And that's it! If the knife meets crisp crust, juicy chicken, and melted cheese without emptying the roll, it came out exactly right. 😌
