Nick's Chicken Piccata
This is Nick's version of chicken piccata. It is more like a schnitzel since the chicken is breaded. If you prefer a more traditional piccata, just dust the chicken in flour and sauté rather than bread it.
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 4 thinly sliced chicken breast slices 2 butterflied breasts
- 1 egg + 2 Tbl water whisked together in shallow dish for wash
- 1 Cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 Cup A/P flour
- 1/4 Cup corn starch Mix together flour and corn starch
- ½ Cup ground parmesano reggiano
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp oregano, dried sub marjoram for a lighter taste
- 1 tsp basil, dried
- ½ tsp sweet or smoked paprika
- 2 lemons, zest and juice in separate bowls
- 2 Tbl capers with brine
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbl butter, salted
- olive oil as needed
- ½ Cup chicken stock
- 3/4 Cup white wine
- 1 Tbl corn starch mixed with water or stock thickener
- chopped parsley garnish
- dash of sugar, if needed if sauce is too acidic
- orzo, cooked as package directs any short pasta, but orzo is excellent
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- chopped parsley and/or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Do all your veg and ingredient prep first. Mise en place will greatly enhance your cooking efficiency.
- Start the pasta water. Add plenty of salt - pasta water should taste like the ocean.
- If you did not do this first, put the egg and water in a shallow dish and whisk. Add a splash of the fresh lemon juice to this wash.
- Combine flour + cornstarch, 1/2 tsp salt, oregano, basil and paprika in second shallow dish.
- Combine parmesan and panko in third shallow dish.
- Heat a large skillet over med hi heat with a thin layer of olive oil in the bottom.
- Dip each breast filet into the flour + cornstarch and shake off excess. Then dip in egg wash, then press into the panko mixture to get good adhesion. Gently add breaded chicken to the pan and do not crowd the pan - cook in batches.
- Cook approximately 5 minutes on the first side, until it is golden brown and the edges of chicken are cooked. Moderate the heat if the breading is cooking too fast. You want a nice sizzle, but a fairly slow cook. Turn the filets once and cook another 3 minutes or so. When golden brown, move to paper towels to drain.
- Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel. In the same pan, add butter and a splash of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook gently until translucent. Add lemon zest and stir for one minute. RESERVE one TSP of zest for orzo.
- Add chicken stock, wine and capers and bring to a simmer. Add lemon juice and simmer for another minute.
- Add cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil for one minute. If the sauce is too tight, thin with stock. It should be a slightly thin sauce, not thick like gravy.
- Check seasoning, add salt or sugar as needed.
- Add butter and lemon zest to drained orzo.
- Serve over pasta with remaining sauce over chicken. Garnish with parsley and a bit more parmesan.
Notes
Serve this with the same wine you used in the sauce.