Chicken Milanese With Escarole Salad Food

CHICKEN MILANESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Beat eggs with salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Spread flour in another dish and bread crumbs in a third dish.
• Working with one piece at a time, gently press chicken into the flour to coat and shake off the excess flour. Dip into the beaten egg, then press into bread crumbs. Gently toss between your hands so any bread crumbs that haven't stuck can fall away. Place the breaded chicken onto a plate while breading the rest; do not stack.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry chicken in batches of 2 or 3 pieces until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, about 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer cooked chicken to a baking sheet and keep warm in preheated oven while cooking remaining chicken.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

CHICKEN MILANESE WITH ESCAROLE SALAD AND PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the Pickled Onions: In a small bowl, combine red wine vinegar with 1/2 cup of cold tap water. Stir in salt, the sugar and the hot sauce. Add the sliced onions and let sit for at least one hour.
• To make the Chicken Milanese: Set up a standard breading procedure in 3 wide deep plates. Fill 1 with flour, 1 with the beaten eggs, and 1 with the panko and grated Parmigiano. Season the chicken breasts with salt. Using one hand for dry things and 1 hand for wet things, take each piece of chicken through the breading procedure: dredge lightly in the flour, then the egg wash and then through the bread crumbs. Lay the breaded chicken on a sheet tray and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Pour olive oil into a large saute pan until it reaches a thickness of about a half an inch - better a little more rather than a little less. Bring to a medium-high heat and add butter. Test the oil by flicking flour or bread crumbs into the oil. If it doesn't sizzle-WAIT! When the oil is hot, test it again by dipping the edge of a piece of chicken into the oil, the oil should gently sizzle. Cook the chicken in the oil in batches on both sides until it is a lovely golden brown color and is crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Do not crowd the pan or the chicken will become very greasy and soggy. When the chicken comes out of the oil lay it on paper towels to drain off the excess oil and sprinkle with salt. You can keep the chicken in a low oven to keep it warm while the rest of the chicken is cooking.
• To make the Escarole Salad: Combine the pecorino, hazelnuts and parsley in the food processor and pulse until they are coarsely chopped. Toss together the escarole, hazelnut mixture and some of the pickled red onions and dress with some of the pickling liquid and olive oil. Season with salt.
• Place chicken on each serving plate and top with the escarole salad.

CHICKEN MILANESE

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Season the pounded cutlets evenly on all sides with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Place the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in 3 separate, shallow bowls. Season the flour with 1/4 teaspoon salt, the eggs with 1/4 teaspoon salt and the breadcrumbs with 1/2 teaspoon salt. One at a time, dredge the seasoned chicken cutlets in the flour, then the egg mixture finishing with the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to make sure the breadcrumbs are evenly coating the chicken.
• Add the oil to the hot pan and heat another 10 seconds. Add the breaded chicken to the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the first side is deep golden brown and the chicken is beginning to look cooked around the edges. Work in batches if needed. Flip the cutlets and continue to cook on the second side until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes longer. Remove the chicken to a wire rack and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper if desired. Serve hot with 1 or 2 lemon wedges and a small arugula salad, if desired.

CHICKEN MILANESE

Steps:

• Place your palm flat against the top of each chicken breast and carefully slice each piece in half horizontally; you'll be left with 4 thinner chicken breast pieces. Place each chicken cutlet between 2 sheets of waxed paper and use the smooth side of a mallet (or a rolling pin) to pound them until they're very thin. If you think they're thin enough -- pound 'em a few more times! The thinner the better.
• In a dish, whisk together the milk and eggs. Place the flour in another dish and mix in some salt and pepper. Place the breadcrumbs in a third dish. Set the 3 dishes aside for a sec.
• Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken pieces, then dredge them 1 at a time in the flour, then quickly dunk both sides in the egg mixture and then coat both sides in the breadcrumbs. Lay each piece on a plate until you're ready to cook them.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. When it's melted and hot, add 2 pieces of the breaded chicken and cook, flipping once, until the breading is golden brown and the chicken is cooked, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer the chicken to a clean plate. Add the other tablespoon of butter and oil to the skillet and cook the other 2 pieces of chicken.
• To serve, place 1 piece of cooked chicken on each plate. Top generously with arugula. Sprinkle with a little kosher salt, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle on some Parmesan shavings. Serve with a lemon wedge on the side.

CHICKEN MILANESE

Steps:

• Make the breadcrumbs: Cut crust from baguettes. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes; pulse in a food processor in batches to form coarse crumbs (this should yield 5 to 6 cups). Spread on a rimmed baking sheet; dry at room temperature for at least an hour or as long as overnight.
• Prepare the chicken: Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Working with one at a time, place chicken breasts on a cutting board, flat side down. Press down on chicken with the palm of one hand, and cut in half horizontally to make 2 cutlets.
• With the flat side of a meat pounder, pound chicken between pieces of plastic wrap until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Lightly beat 3 large eggs in a medium bowl. Place 2/3 cup all-purpose flour and breadcrumbs in 2 separate wide, shallow dishes. Season eggs, flour, and chicken with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, dip into flour, turning to coat and shaking off excess. Dip into egg, and lift out, letting excess drip off. Dip into breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to help them adhere. Transfer to a plate or pan, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. If needed, separate layers with wax paper or parchment paper.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet (oil should be between 1/4 and 1/2 inch deep) over medium-high heat until shimmering; a breadcrumb should sizzle instantly when dropped into oil. Gently place 2 cutlets 3/4 to 1 inch apart in skillet, and fry until undersides are golden brown, 3 1/2 to 4 minutes. Flip cutlets, and fry until cooked through and golden brown on other side, about 2 1/2 minutes more (chicken should feel firm).
• Cutlets less than 1/4 inch thick will take 1 to 2 minutes less. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet, and pat off excess oil. Lightly sprinkle with coarse salt, and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining cutlets, skimming brown bits and adding more oil if necessary. Aside from a squeeze of fresh lemon, a simple salad is all you need with chicken Milanese.