Chef Johns City Chicken Food

CHEF JOHN'S CITY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut tenderloin into three sections; the thick center section and two end sections. Cut the thinner end portion of the tenderloin into chunks. Slice the thick center section lengthwise into even halves. Cut the 2 center sections and thicker end portion into1/2-inch slices.
• Thread pork pieces, starting with the smallest pieces and working up to wider pieces, onto each skewer to resemble chicken drumsticks.
• Season skewered 'drumsticks' with salt, black pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper on all sides.
• Whisk eggs together in a bowl. Pour flour into another bowl. Put the bread crumbs into a third bowl.
• Gently press the 'drumsticks' into flour to coat and shake to remove excess flour. Dip 'drumsticks' into egg and press into bread crumbs. Place finished drumsticks on a plate in a single layer and refrigerate, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until the surface of the oil is shimmering. Cook 'drumsticks' in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate; let rest 5 minutes. Season with salt.

JOHN'S CITY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place alternative pieces of pork and veal on wooden skewers until 6 pieces are used.
• Mix parsley into eggs.
• Roll meat into flour, then egg-parsley mixture and then breadcrumbs.
• Brown on all sides in hot oil.
• Place in large baking pan and add chicken broth.
• Cover and bake at 325ºF for 2 hours, basting occasionally.

CHEF JOHN'S QUICK CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts between 2 layers of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/2 inch thick. If you don't have a meat mallet, you can use a small frying pan.
• Season both sides of chicken breasts with cayenne, salt and black pepper, to taste; dredge lightly with flour and shake off excess. Alternatively, the flour can be put in a tea strainer and shaken over each side of the chicken.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan, reduce heat to medium, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side; remove to a plate.
• Add the capers to the remaining oil in the pan, smashing them slightly to release brine, until warmed through, about 30 seconds.
• Pour white wine into skillet. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon (or other appropriate tool). Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice, water (or stock), and butter in to the reduced wine mixture; cook and stir continuously to form a thick sauce, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir parsley though the sauce.
• Return chicken breasts to pan, cook until heated through, 1-2 minutes. Serve with sauce spooned over the top.

QUICK CHICKEN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place couscous in a heat-proof mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, and olive oil; stir with a spoon until all couscous is coated with oil. Level off to smooth the top and set aside.
• Season chicken on both sides with salt.
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add chicken and sear for 2 to 3 minutes on one side. Flip and add onions. Sear chicken on second side, while sauteing onions at the same time, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove chicken to a plate and let cool for a few minutes. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes and return to the saucepan.
• Add chicken broth, zucchini, green beans, bell pepper, green onions, paprika, and turmeric to the saucepan. Place over high heat. As soon as it boils, remove from the heat and carefully dump it on top of the couscous; do not stir. Immediately wrap bowl tightly with foil and set a timer for 5 minutes.
• When timer goes off, unwrap foil and toss in parsley. Stir to combine ingredients. Taste and adjust for salt.
• Spoon couscous onto serving plate and garnish with feta cheese, chili flakes, and parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Brush bottom and sides of 2 (5-ounce) ramekins lightly with 1 teaspoon melted butter; cover bottom and sides right up to the rim. Add 1 tablespoon white sugar to ramekins. Rotate ramekins until sugar coats all surfaces. Pour off extra sugar.
• Place chocolate pieces in a metal mixing bowl. Place bowl over a pan of about 3 cups hot water over low heat. Do not let water boil or come to a simmer.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour. Whisk until flour is incorporated into butter and mixture thickens, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in cold milk until mixture becomes smooth and thickens, 2 or 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Transfer mixture to bowl with melted chocolate.
• Add salt and very small pinch of cayenne pepper. Mix together thoroughly. Add egg yolk and mix to combine. Leave bowl above the hot (not simmering) water to keep chocolate warm while you whip the egg whites.
• Place 2 egg whites in a mixing bowl; add cream of tartar. Whisk until mixture begins to thicken and a drizzle from the whisk stays on the surface about 1 second before disappearing into the mix, 2 or 3 minutes. Add 1/3 of sugar and whisk inches Whisk in a bit more sugar about 15 seconds; whisk in the rest of the sugar. Continue whisking until mixture is about as thick as shaving cream and holds soft peaks, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer a little less than half of egg whites to chocolate. Mix until egg whites are thoroughly incorporated into the chocolate, 1 or 2 minutes. Add the rest of the egg whites; gently fold into the chocolate with a spatula, lifting from the bottom and folding over. Stop mixing after the egg white disappears. Divide mixture between 2 prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until scuffles are puffed and have risen above the top of the rims, 12 to 15 minutes.