If any of you have been following me, you know I’m a huge fan of chicken cutlets. They’re tender, juicy and cook quickly, making them perfect for your weeknight dinner. I also like that the options for them are endless too, like Chicken Piccata Sandwich or Tarragon Chicken Cutlets.
Today’s chicken cutlet gets coated with pecan breading that panfries beautifully, as long as you keep the heat under control. The pecans are mild enough not to overwhelm the chicken and provide a bit of crunch and nutty flavour. You can eat these delicious cutlets on their own but my personal favourite is dolloped with my Cherry Salsa You can also top them with your favourite red pepper jelly or spicy apple jelly. You may also want to try a crispy cutlet on a bun with cool crunchy lettuce and a slathering of mayo and Cherry Salsa. It’s darn good!!
Cut chicken breasts in half and then cut each half horizontally, giving you 8 pieces. Place each piece between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap and pound to an approximate 1/4" thickness with the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin. Season both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper.
Using a food processor, grind pecans until fine. Add breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and pulse several times to combine. Pour crumbs into a shallow bowl.
In a separate shallow bowl whisk together eggs, sour cream and milk.
Add 1/3 cup flour to a separate shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Arrange bowls for breading starting with the flour, then the egg wash and pecan crumbs last.
Heat one tablespoon of oil and one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss 3-4 cutlets into the flour and turn to coat, shaking off the excess flour. Place one cutlet at a time into the egg wash and coat completely. Lay cutlet into pecan crumbs and turn to coat, pressing lightly to adhere the crumbs. Place 3-4 breaded cutlets into the hot pan (don't overcrowd the pan) and cook 3 minutes per side, adjusting your heat if needed. Nuts burn easily, so medium-low heat is recommended.
Remove cooked cutlets to a plate and keep warm in a low oven while cooking remaining cutlets. Wipe out the loose crumbs from the pan with a paper towel after each batch.
Serve cutlets immediately with Cherry Salsa, red pepper jelly or apple fig spread.
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Simply put, they are pounded thin. This not only makes them tender but makes them cook quickly leaving them little chance of drying out. The trick is to pound them out as evenly as possible which results in even cooking. Breading the cutlets isn’t always necessary but it does help to keep in all the moisture as does a good sear if opting not to bread them. Breaded Pesto Chicken Cutlets is a good example of both pounding thin and breading.
I love versatile food!
Breaded Pesto Chicken Cutlets are a great example of how one dish can become 3 different kinds of meals. These crispy cutlets slathered with pesto are fantastic served with buttered noodles for a quick and easy weeknight meal. They’re also great cut into wedges and served atop a crisp salad. I’m thinking my favourite though is nestling said cutlet between chewy bread and tomato slices for an upgraded sandwich that ‘s good for lunch or dinner.
Using a blender or mini processor combine the first 7 ingredients and blend until combined but still has some texture. Set aside.
Using three shallow bowls, combine flour and 1/2 tsp salt in one, breadcrumbs and 1/2 tsp salt in the second and the eggs whisked with the milk in the third.
Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Cut each breast in half horizontally and then cut each half into half vertically, giving you 4 pieces per breast.
Place chicken pieces between 2 pieces of parchment. Pound to about a 1/4" thick (no thinner).
Dredge chicken cutlets with flour, shaking off excess.
Dunk floured cutlets into egg wash and then into bread crumbs, turning to coat evenly. Arrange prepared cutlets onto a clean plate or tray.
Add enough oil to a large skillet to come up about an 1/8" of an inch. Heat over medium until hot. Add 4 cutlets and cook approximately 2 1/2 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat with remaining cutlets.
Turn oven to broil, with rack 8-10" from heat.
Arrange cutlets on a foil lined tray. Spread 1 tbsp of pesto onto each cutlet and sprinkle lightly with grated parmesan cheese. Broil for 1-2 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
-You can use any pesto you'd like here, however, the one included with this recipe contains less oil than regular pesto. I found regular pesto makes the cutlets too oily. This slightly drier version gives the same great flavour but less oil and better results. If you'd like to use a classic pesto, here's the recipe Classic Pesto
-These cutlets are also great on top of pasta drizzled with extra pesto or in a sandwich.
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As promised, this gorgeous Rack of Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce is made using ingredients from “The Founders Box” which I received to do an unboxing post for The Taste Box a few weeks ago. The Founders Box included ground coffee, herbs de Provence, organic extra virgin olive oil and pomegranate molasses. This succulent and flavourful rack of lamb gets a dose of three of the quality ingredients that came with The Founders Box.
The herbs de Provence is used to flavour the mustard rub that’s slathered onto the lamb rack prior to applying the panko coating. It imparts a wonderful herbal note that’s fantastic with the mustard and lamb. The extra virgin olive oil is used in both the mustard rub and drizzled into the panko bread crumbs for flavour and to help browning.
The third and last ingredient used in this recipe is the pomegranate molasses and its boldness is fantastic with a stronger meat like lamb. It’s the finishing touch to a reduction of broth and port, giving a slightly tart and bitter note that blends amazingly with the sweetness from apricot jam and hint of fresh rosemary.
Recipe source for Rack of Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce: Compelled To Cook
Preheat oven to 425℉. Trim lamb rack of excess fat and clean off bones if needed. Season lamb on all sides with salt and pepper. Over high heat, heat canola oil in a pan large enough to fit the lamb rack. Brown lamb rack on all sides. Remove from pan and place meat side up on a baking sheet lined with foil.
In a small bowl whisk together Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, garlic, 2 tsp olive oil and herbs de provence. Smear onto all sides of lamb giving the upper meat side the most attention.
In another small bowl stir together panko bread crumbs, remaining 2 tsp olive oil and 1/8 tsp of both salt and freshly ground pepper. Pack this mixture onto mustard coating on the meat side only, which will include the sides of the lamb rack.
Clean up any stay crumbs that have fallen onto baking sheet as they tend to burn. Place lamb into preheated oven and cook for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer registers 125℉-130℉ for medium rare. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut between bones into chops and top with pomegranate sauce, serve immediately.
Sauce
In a small sauce pan heat butter over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté for 2-3 minutes until starting to soften but not browning. Add beef broth and rosemary sprig. Increase heat and bring to a steady simmer and allow to reduce for about 2 minutes. Stir in port and continue to reduce for about 10 minutes until sauce has thickened and is syrupy. Remove from heat and remove rosemary sprig. Stir in apricot jam and pomegranate molasses. Spoon over lamb chops and serve immediately, serving any extra sauce on the side.
Recipe Notes
Sauce can be made a day ahead and gently rewarmed for serving.
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