Giadas Crunchy Chicken Fingers Food

CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the chicken, buttermilk, lemon and salt in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and toss to coat. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• For the crispy prosciutto: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray. Lay the prosciutto flat on the baking sheet and spray with a few more spritzes. Bake until lightly toasted and crispy, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• For the mayo: Mix together the mayonnaise and pesto in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the sandwiches: Mix together the flour, breadcrumbs and salt in a shallow bowl. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the grapeseed oil to cover the bottom of the skillet. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk, removing as much of the buttermilk as possible, and dredge in the flour mixture. Place immediately in the hot oil. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Fry on the first side until golden brown and there is a ring of cooked chicken around the edges, about 5 minutes. Gently flip the chicken and continue to cook on the second side until evenly golden brown and cooked through, an additional 4 minutes. Place a slice of mozzarella on top of each and cover the pan for an additional minute to melt the cheese. Alternatively, you can remove the chicken to a small baking tray, top with the mozzarella and place under the broiler until melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Spread the cut sides of the buns evenly with pesto mayonnaise. Place a small amount of arugula on the bottom halves and top with a cutlet. Break a slice of crispy prosciutto on top. Close the sandwiches and enjoy.

EASY PANTRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Add the mustard, tamari, honey and ginger to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Whisk well to combine. Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat them evenly in the marinade, ending with the skin-side up. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 8.
• Remove the chicken dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting. Toss the chicken pieces again to coat well.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add 1/4 cup water to the baking dish and swirl to combine. Roast, basting every 15 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees F on a digital thermometer, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with the reduced sauce.

CRISPY CHICKEN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the Parmesan, parsley, milk, salt, oregano, pepper flakes, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and 1 egg. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat. Shape the meat mixture into bite-size balls and press a cube of mozzarella in the middle of each, sealing it with the meat around it.
• Set up a standard breading station: put the flour in one shallow bowl, the remaining 1 cup of breadcrumbs in a separate bowl and the remaining 2 eggs in another separate bowl. Roll each meatball in the flour, then the egg wash, then the breadcrumbs.
• Fill a medium Dutch oven a third of the way with vegetable oil and place over medium heat. Bring the oil to 350 degrees F using a deep-fry thermometer,
• Drop in the meatballs a few at a time so as to not lower the temperature, and fry until deep golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season with a pinch of salt. Continue with the remaining meatballs. Serve warm with marinara for dipping if desired.

GARLIC AND CITRUS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the orange, lemon, and garlic halves. Tie the chicken legs together with kitchen string to help hold its shape. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place a rack in a large roasting pan. Place the chicken, breast side up, on the rack in the pan. Roast the chicken for 1 hour, basting occasionally and adding some chicken broth to the pan, if necessary, to prevent the pan drippings from burning. Whisk the orange juice, lemon juice, oil, oregano, and chopped garlic in a medium bowl to blend. Brush some of the juice mixture over the chicken, after it has baked 1 hour. Continue roasting the chicken until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the innermost part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F, basting occasionally with the juice mixture and adding broth to the pan, about 45 minutes longer. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Tent with foil while making the sauce (do not clean the pan).
• Place the same roasting pan over medium-low heat. Whisk in any remaining broth and simmer until the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Strain into a 2-cup glass measuring cup and discard the solids. Spoon the fat from the top of the sauce. Serve the chicken with the pan sauce.

CRISPY CHICKEN TENDERS WITH PICCATA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the breadcrumbs, spinach, Parmesan, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a food processor. Blend until the spinach is finely chopped, then transfer to a medium bowl. Mix together the chicken and buttermilk in another medium bowl. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture, allowing any extra buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Toss until the chicken pieces are coated.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch high-sided skillet over medium-high heat (the oil is hot enough when a pinch of breadcrumbs sizzles when added to the pan). Add one-third of the chicken and fry until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• For the sauce: Combine the broth, lemon juice and flour in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then lower the heat and simmer until thick, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the butter until smooth. Stir in the parsley, agave and salt. Keep warm.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken or serve alongside as a dipping sauce.

SPICY CHICKEN TENDERS WITH HONEY-MUSTARD

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a heavy baking sheet liberally with vegetable oil cooking spray. Set aside.
• Honey-Mustard: In a small serving bowl, mix together the honey and mustard until smooth. Set aside.
• Breading: In a medium bowl, mix together the flour and 1 tablespoon salt. In a second medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and hot sauce. In a third medium bowl, mix together the cornmeal, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Dredge the chicken in the flour and then into the egg mixture. Allow any excess egg mixture to drip off and coat the chicken in the cornmeal mixture. Arrange the breaded chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, to taste. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Arrange the chicken on a platter and serve the honey-mustard alongside.

GIADA'S CRUNCHY CHICKEN FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Brush 1 tablespoon of oil over each of 2 heavy large lined baking sheets. Place the buttermilk in a large bowl. Add the chicken tenders and stir to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, mash the garlic with the salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in the vinegar and then the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with pepper. Transfer the vinaigrette to a small serving bowl. Stir the Parmesan and bread crumbs in a pie dish. Remove the chicken tenders from the buttermilk and dredge them in the bread crumb mixture to coat completely, pressing to adhere. Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over the chicken tenders and bake until they are cooked through and golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken tenders to a platter and serve the vinaigrette alongside for dipping.