- Merrill
Like last week's meatloaf post, my post this week is inspired by my New Year's resolution to go back to basics in the kitchen. My meat-and-potatoes fiancé loves German food, and wiener schnitzel is perhaps his favorite dish in the world. So one night recently, I decided to attempt a chicken cutlet that could stand up to even the best schnitzel. Ina Garten first introduced me to the notion of adding grated parmesan and fresh herbs to the breadcrumbs when making cutlets, and some time ago I decided I preferred panko to plain breadcrumbs because of the extra crunch. I also find that by pounding the chicken breasts as thin as possible (I just cover them with plastic wrap and have at them with a rolling pin -- very cathartic) and keeping the heat fairly high, I end up with crisp, evenly browned cutlets and juicy, tender meat in under 5 minutes. To aid with the browning and crisping, I like to add a knob of butter to the vegetable oil before frying.
Confident that I had this one in the bag, I whipped up my signature cutlets, along with some smashed potatoes and green beans. I put the plate in front of my fiancé, and his reaction was exactly what I had been hoping for. Not a crumb was left on the plate. So far, I'm 2 for 2 in resolution land.
Herbed Chicken Cutlets with Panko and Parmesan
Serves 2
- 1 cup panko crumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped assorted fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary)
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan
- Salt and pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to about 1/4 inch thick
What a beautifully simple meal. I love the idea of using plastic wrap + your rolling pin for creating a nice thin chicken breast. Yet another way to use what's already in the kitchen versus purchasing new tools and gadgets.
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoThank you! I've got to tell you, I love my straight rolling pin.
Another version of this is to add Pimenton to the panko.which gives it some snap. Also, a squeeze of lemon once it is on the plate is mandatory for a real schnitzel. Since the base is chicken, a handful of capers does not hurt either.
As for the panko, find an Asian market and buy a big bag. It keeps forever.
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoYes, you're right about the lemon! We've done that more often than not -- just forgot to include it in the post. Thanks for reminding me. The pimenton addition sounds great.
IN response to the mac and cheese request:
By far my favorite is this one from 10 Arts Jennifer Carroll:
10 Arts Macaroni, Ham and Cheese
Makes 2 to 4 servings
2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni
1 cup of grated Gruyère cheese
1 cup of ground Boar's Head ham (if you do not have a grinder, chop ham to a fine dice)
1 1/2 cups of béchamel (see below)
Milk as needed
1 cup of sourdough bread crumbs (See note)
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
For the Béchamel:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 quart (4 cups) of milk
A pinch of nutmeg
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Make a white roux by melting the butter and adding flour. Gradually add the milk to the pan, whisking away any lumps. Bring the sauce to a full boil; reduce to a simmer, stirring frequently. Simmer until sauce is smooth and flour is cooked out (about 20 minutes). Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
3. Warm the béchamel. Add half of the Gruyère. Remove immediately from the heat. The cheese should just lightly melt into the béchamel.
4. Add the cooked macaroni and ham to the béchamel cheese mixture. The consistency should be fairly loose but not soupy. Add milk if needed to loosen. Season to taste with fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
5. Place mixture in a casserole. Top with the rest of the Gruyère cheese and the bread crumbs.
6. Place in oven until the cheese is bubbly and crisp (about 4 to 6 minutes). Do not overcook. It should still be quite moist. Serve immediately.
Note: For the bread crumbs, use day-old sourdough bread slices and let them dry out. Grind in processor or crush in a zippered bag until super-fine. Pass through a fine-mesh tami (sieve) so the bread crumbs are like dust.
Per serving (based on 4): 623 calories, 33 grams protein, 45 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams sugar, 34 grams fat, 114 milligrams cholesterol, 773 milligrams sodium, 2 grams dietary fiber.
Love this. I've only made Schnitzels with veal, which I pounded thin and then I made some incisions round the edges, which allows the schnitzel stay flat when frying.... Good on you!!!! I am so desperate to make the meatloaf - having never made one before...and can I BEG for a mac and cheese recipe please. That's also on my LOTTT 2010 = List of things to try 2010! LOL
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoI'll have to try mine with the incisions next time -- great technique. Hopefully we'll get a deluge of mac and cheese recipes this week for the contest!
My friends and I are going to make our first souffle next weekend. I'm going to make this to go with it!
My mother makes chicken this way (with flour and fresh breadcrumbs, not panko), then she tops it with arugula and ripe tomatoes which have been rough chopped/diced and marinated in a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Everything gets a good grinding of black pepper and a sprinkle of sea salt. She serves it as a one-dish meal - the meat comes with the salad on top. A wedge of lemon squeezed over finishes the dish. The flavor combination is incredible!
Genius. I made this dish tonight, and will try your mom's version tomorrow.
Thanks!
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoLove the accompaniment. When summer rolls around, I'll try your version for sure.
Mmmmmm...this sounds delicious. Can't wait to try it. Love panko bread crumbs. Like the cathartic part of pounding the chicken. I will post a "quick" duck confit with panko bread crumbs that I think you will like. It is served over arugula -- and very light in a duck-y kind of way.
To: AntoniaJames -- I like the "Ians" (All Natural) Panko Breadcrumbs -- you can get them at W.F.'s
My German mother taught me that the flour helps keep the breadcrumbs from sliding off in sheets from the cutlet once it's cooked, and "Don't be afraid of the oil!" The cutlets don't absorb as much oil as you might be afraid they will - and using plenty of oil in the pan really helps brown and crisp the cutlets evenly.
this sounds just delicious, particularly with the addition of fresh herbs. i bet it would go well with a simple arugula salad, just like a milanese. thank you so much for sharing!
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoYou're welcome!
I make this recipe all the time after having a similar one from WF deli...I love it with a marinara sauce over it. (not too German)
Great post! Ina's parmesan chicken is a classic in our house. I agree, panko crumbs taste awesome with the this dish. Sometimes I use flavored panko from my local shop or mix up the cheeses to give the flavor a new twist. When I make this I cut one of the breasts into strips for my daughter and call them "chicken fingers" - that is about the closest we get to chicken nuggets in our house. She loves them. Also, I've done this method with veal before and it is delicious, too.
Kelsey - isn't it funny how a child won't eat a giant slab of meat, but if you cut it into more manageable pieces, the same kid will eat all of those pieces and ask for more? I do the same thing for my son, although I am starting to feel like, at age 9, he needs to get over the kid-sized pieces and just eat the chicken already! Remind me I said that in about 2 or 3 years when he is eating everything in sight as he grows.
It's so true! My daughter is only 2 and she is good with a little fork and spoon, but not a knife yet. So we are still big on the finger foods, whether she can eat them with her fork or not! I can see how this trend could continue for a while, there is something about grabbing the food with her hands that she loves. Oh well! I just am happy that someone gave her a McD's chicken nugget once and she spit it out and said "eww, gross." It was a proud moment for me. You are right, when your son's growth spurt hits you'll have trouble just keeping enough food in the house!
Yum. Love the addition of parmesan. I'd double the recipe and make a simple chicken parmigiana with any leftovers. My kids love that.
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoGreat idea! My fiancé's go-to dinner (that he makes for me) is Chicken Parmesan, and this would be a great way to start the dish.
That's a great idea, Mrs. L!
I've never bought or used panko crumbs before. What is the best kind, i.e., is there a particular brand that you all like? I have a Holier Than Thou (I mean, "Whole") Foods not far from me . . . . plus some other good grocery stores, as well. Thanks!
Antonia - you are missing out! Panko is so awesome to use in lieu of breadcrumbs on some many things! I buy the basic 365 brand at WF myself, they taste good and work well. But, I've also bought a few of the Japanese brands at stores in my area and they are excellent, too. Maybe A+M have particular brand they would recommend. Either way, go buy some! FYI, in addition to breading meats I like to make panko crusts on top of casseroles or stirred into Mac&Cheese - I find them lighter and crunchier than regular breadcrumbs in these instances.
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoI don't have a preferred brand, I'm afraid. I'm an equal opportunity panko buyer!
Mmmm, this does make me want to hop into the kitchen and get some butter into a cast-iron pan.
A question: what purpose does the flour serve?
I make a version of cutlets without the flouring step and the cutlets still seem delicious. (I just didn't read a recipe before I started making cutlets for my kids a few years ago.) Should I add that step?
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoYou know, I do it more out of habit than anything else. Maybe I'll try them without next time!
I just got a new cast iron pan, and this will be a great way to break it in. Love it.
Love these back-to-basic recipes, much improved! I know this one's going to become a favorite around here. Thanks for posting this. And please, keep them coming!!!
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoThanks for the compliment!
Nothing more satisfying than seeing cleaned plates. The cutlets sounds great. I will try them out on my man tonight.
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
added over 2 years agoLet me know if he joins the Clean Plate Club!
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