Recipe of the Week:Chicken Parmesan

Brian made me chicken parmesan a few weeks ago and it’s one of the best things he cooks! It’s pretty easy to prepare therefore it’s a prefect candidate for recipe of the week!

Enjoy!

Stacy

CHICKEN PARMESAN

Prep: 15 min; Cook: 20 min

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS:

4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 - 1 1/2 pounds total)
2 cups dry bread crumbs
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 jar Italian tomato/pasta sauce
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced or grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS:

1. Carefully trim the chicken breasts. For thinner cutlets: with the flat side of a cleaver or a heavy skillet (you can also use a roller or even a wine bottle), pound or roll the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap to the desired thickness (usually about 1/4").

2. Spread the bread crumbs on a flat plate. Coat cutlets with bread crumbs (press down firmly while coating with bread crumbs).

3. Set the tomato/pasta sauce on low heat to warm (it will spread more easily).

4. On medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Sautee the garlic until lightly browned. Place the breaded cutlets in the pan and cook until they are deep golden brown on both sides (5-7 minutes each side). Remove to a paper towel to drain.

5. Place 1 cup of the warm tomato sauce in the bottom of a baking dish large enough to hold the cutlets in one layer. Add the cooked cutlets to the baking dish; cover with the rest of the tomato sauce and top each cutlet with a sliced or grated mozzarella.
6. Cook the chicken parmesan in the oven for ten minutes. If the cheese has not melted/browned you can slip it under the broiler for a minute or so - keep an eye on it so the cheese does not burn.
7. Serve cutlet on top of a cup of your favorite cooked pasta. Add extra sauce and parmesan cheese.

Notes: Goes great with a side salad, steamed broccoli and a thick slice of French or garlic bread.