Chicken Piccata With Chard Or Beet Greens Food

THE BEST CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, making 4 roughly equal pieces; they should look like large chicken tenders. Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put a chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4-inch thick and 6 to 8 inches long. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, one piece at a time. Liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper. Refrigerate the chicken cutlets uncovered for 1 hour.
• Remove the zest from half of the lemon in wide strips with a vegetable peeler, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Halve and juice the whole lemon.
• Put the flour in a shallow bowl or plate. Dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt. Working in 2 batches, cook the cutlets, adding another tablespoon of butter to the skillet between batches, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side (it's ok if the chicken is not completely cooked through, it will finish cooking in the sauce). Transfer the cutlets to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and cook until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 1/4 cup water and the cutlets with any accumulated juices and bring to a boil. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Turn the chicken to coat in the sauce and cook until the butter melts and the sauce thickens slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley.

CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
• Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

GRILLED CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Whisk together the olive oil, capers, parsley and lemon juice in a bowl. Put the chicken in a resealable bag, pour the marinade into the bag and let marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Prepare a grill for two-level heat. If using a gas grill, set to medium-high heat on one side and low on the other side. If using a charcoal grill, bank hot coals on one side of the grill.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade; reserve the marinade. Place the chicken skin-side up on the hot side of the grill, close the lid and grill for 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill for 1 minute, then move to the cooler side of the grill skin-side up.
• Pour the marinade and stock into a small saucepan and place on the hot side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook until the chicken measures 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes; make sure the marinade is simmering. During the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, add the lemon halves cut-side down and cook until charred in spots. Remove the chicken and lemon to a plate.
• Whisk the butter into the marinade until combined, then pour over the chicken. Serve with the grilled lemon.

CHICKEN PICCATA WITH GARLICKY GREENS & NEW POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook the new potatoes in a large pan of boiling salted water for 8-10 mins until tender. Add the green beans and spring greens for the last 3 mins. Drain, then separate the greens from the potatoes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, cut the chicken breasts through the centre lengthways, leaving one side attached so it opens out like a book. Brush each one with 1 tsp of the olive oil, then season.
• Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and cook the chicken for 4 mins on each side until golden. Pour over the stock, capers, lemon juice and zest, then simmer gently for a few minutes to reduce. Add the cooked potatoes and simmer for another minute.
• Heat the remaining 1 tsp oil in another frying pan and fry the garlic for 1 min until lightly golden and fragrant. Tip in the drained greens, and toss in the garlicky oil. Season, then scatter over the parmesan and serve with the chicken and potatoes.

CHICKEN "PICCATA" WITH CHARD OR BEET GREENS

Steps:

• Cut each chicken breast into 2 equal pieces (if they are - 12 ounces or more, cut them into 3 pieces). Place two sheets of plastic wrap (1 large sheet if you have extra-wide wrap) on your work surface, overlapping slightly, to make 1 wide sheet, and brush lightly with olive oil. Place a piece of chicken in the middle of plastic sheet and brush lightly with oil. Cover the chicken with another wide layer of plastic wrap. Working from the center to the outside, pound chicken breast with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until about 1/4 inch thick. Don't pound too hard or you'll tear the meat. If that happens it won't be the end of the world, you'll just have a few pieces to cook.) Repeat with the remaining chicken breast pieces.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt to taste and blanch greens for 1 to 2 minutes. Using a skimmer or a slotted spoon, transfer greens to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Alternatively, steam greens for 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted. Chop medium-fine and set aside.
• Season pounded chicken breasts with salt and pepper on one side only. Dredge lightly in the flour and tap the breasts to remove excess.
• Turn oven on low and get out a platter or a sheet pan. Heat a wide, heavy skillet over high heat and add oil. When oil is hot, place one or two pieces of chicken in the pan - however many will fit without crowding. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes, until bottom is browned in spots. Turn over and brown on other side, about 1 1/2 minutes. (Do not overcook or chicken will be dry.) Transfer to platter or sheet pan and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with rest of chicken, if any.
• If there is more than a tablespoon of fat in the pan, pour some of it off into a jar or bowl. To deglaze the pan, add wine and lemon juice to pan and scrape. Whisk in softened butter and capers, and stir until sauce is velvety. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle on parsley.
• Transfer greens to pan and heat through, stirring. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange on plates with the chicken on top or on the side.

PERFECT CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise and lightly pound to 1/2-inch thick. Season evenly on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in flour to coat the surface and shake off any excess flour.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add 1/2 of the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until browned and easily released from the skillet, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from the skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the drippings and repeat the cooking process with remaining chicken. Reserve all chicken on a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium and melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Add wine and capers and stir, scraping to release any browned bits from the skillet; bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes to slightly reduce. Add chicken stock, lemon juice, and lemon zest; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
• Return chicken to the skillet and cook, turning occasionally in the sauce, until chicken is no longer pink in the center, the juices run clear, and the sauce has thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and sprinkle with parsley to serve.