March 12, 2009

Barefoot Bloggers- Chicken Piccata

I love watching Barefoot Contessa and laugh when every time Ina makes chicken for Jeffrey and they show him at the end saying, "This is even better than my favorite roast chicken, and you know how I love chicken!" She laughs and says she loves him and they pan out showing their beautiful home and I smile. Well, my man loves steak like Jeffrey loves chicken, but for the budget and cholesterol levels we try to stick with chicken for the most part. This recipe is as good as Jeffrey makes it out to be and while there are a lot of dishes from the breading, the end product is delicious. It doesn't even usually require a trip to the grocery store for me, which makes this recipe a winner. Thanks, Lindsey, for the fun choice and don't forget to see all the other Barefoot Bloggers delicious dinners!

Chicken Piccata
from Ina Garten

2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 extra-large egg
1/2 tablespoon water
3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs (whole wheat)
Good olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used white grape juice)
Sliced lemon, for serving
Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

22 comments:

  1. Call me old fashioned, but I think there is something really fun about making a dinner that the hubs loves. I'm glad that your hubs loved the chicken piccata even as a "steak man." We thought this was great too! I went a little too heavy on the lemon, but that is easily fixed next time around. Yours looks beautiful! Oh, and I love how this one doesn't require a special grocery run!

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  2. I love the dynamic between Jeffrey and Ina too- they are a very adorable couple. I'm glad you enjoyed this as well, thanks for participating this round- yours looks great!

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  3. We enjoyed this one too. Yours looks really good. Your right, it does have ingredients I almost always have one hand.

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  4. Chicken piccata is a favorite of mine. Yours looks great. I also love watching Ina...I've become a new fan of hers!

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  5. Ina & Jeffrey are cute together! This looks delicious! I really need to try this one.

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  6. I love making things that my honey loves. It makes making dinner worth it... you know?

    ~Delta Whiskey (Cat)

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  7. Ina and Jeffrey are the best..so cute.

    Loved this recipe, one of my new faves!! Yours looks delicious Anne!!

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  8. This certainly looks delicious! No wonder your steak-loving husband loved it! It sounds so god. I may just have to make this one myself ASAP!

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  9. I love making dinners just for my husband. Isn't it just the best. I think he would love this one!

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  10. Anne, I love how you always tie in your post to the show and the interaction between Jeffrey and Ina. And I agree with Cathy, I still get a thrill from making something M. loves. He' eats everything I make, never a complaint, but when he wolfs a dinner down like he did this one, it gives me a warm fuzzy. Your chicken looks terrific! Love the lemon!

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  11. My Jeffrey is a total carnivore, but we wind up eating chicken most of the time, so that he's not grabbing his chest like Fred Sanford.

    I love watching Jeffrey and Ina. Those kids ... ;)

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  12. This looks awesome! I've never had chicken piccata, but i must!

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  13. Don't you love Jeffrey? He and Ina are way too cute. Your chicken looks amazing! It's making me very hungry...

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  14. Yours look beautiful!! Can't wait to cook up your pick. :)

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  15. Oh man, that looks delicious with all those veggies!

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  16. Your pic looks beautiful! I am a HUGE fan of chicken and lemon, in any combination.

    I love seeing Jeffrey and Ina. The two of them together are just adorable!

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  17. Your chicken looks great. Jeffrey has a pretty good thing going...all that yummy food!

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  18. That description of Ina and Jeffrey is spot on! This was a good recipe pick!

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  19. I wonder if Jeffery ever says, "Whoa, honey, you put a little too much lemon is this sauce!"? Oh, no, that was at my house.
    I'll have to do a little tasting and adjusting next time!

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  20. I think I love chicken as much as Jeffrey. Your pic looks lovely - it is a bonus when you don't have to search high and low for ingredients.

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