Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders Over Salad Food

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN TENDERS WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the pecans in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped (go easy -- you don't want a paste). Add the panko, 1¼ teaspoon salt, sugar and cayenne pepper and pulse a few more times to combine. The panko should be broken down slightly but not finely ground.
• Set up three large shallow dishes in an assembly line. Place the flour in the first dish; beat the eggs in the second dish; and place the pecan/panko mixture in the third dish. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to hold the breaded tenders, and place at the end of the assembly line.
• Season the chicken tenders with the remaining teaspoon salt. Working with one tender at a time: dredge first in the flour, shaking off any excess; dip in the egg to coat evenly; and then dredge in the pecan/panko mixture, pressing down to make the coating adhere. Try to use one hand for the dry breading (the flour and pecan/panko mixture) and one hand for the wet (the eggs) -- otherwise, your hands will end up a mess. Place the breaded tender on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining tenders.
• Heat about ⅛-inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. While the oil heats up, line another baking sheet with paper towels (this is for the finished tenders - the paper towels will absorb any excess oil).
• When the oil starts to shimmer, add half of the chicken tenders and cook for a few minutes on the first side until golden brown. Using tongs, flip the tenders and cook until the second side is also golden, 1-2 minutes Adjust the heat as necessary so the tenders don't burn. Transfer the cooked tenders to the prepared baking sheet. Discard the oil, wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel, and then repeat with the remaining tenders.
• Make the sauce by combining the mayonnaise, mustard and honey in a small bowl. Serve alongside chicken tenders.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. No need to defrost; put the chicken tenders on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven until heated through and crisp, about 25 minutes. (Flip the chicken halfway through baking.)

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the ketchup: Stir together the ketchup, vinegar, sriracha, Worcestershire and brown sugar in a small bowl.
• For the chicken: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and spray it generously with cooking spray.
• Pulse the pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Add the panko and pulse until just combined. Pour into a wide, shallow bowl.
• Put the flour in a wide, shallow bowl and whisk in the garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and a pinch of pepper.
• Whisk the eggs in another shallow bowl.
• Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dredge in the seasoned flour, then shake off the excess. Dip in the egg to coat and let the excess drip off. Add to the pecan panko mixture and turn to coat, lightly pressing so that the crumbs adhere. Transfer to the prepared baking pan.
• Spray the chicken generously with cooking spray and bake until golden brown all over and just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with the spicy, tangy ketchup on the side.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN TENDERS AND SALAD WITH TANGY MAPLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Set out 3 shallow dishes. Place flour in 1 dish, eggs beaten with water or milk in a second. In the third dish, combine bread crumbs with ground pecans, nutmeg and orange zest. Coat tenders in batches in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture. Fry tenders in small batches 6 to 7 minutes. Drain tenders on paper towels.
• Combine maple syrup, barbecue sauce and orange juice in a bowl. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine romaine, radishes and scallions in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter. Toss with 3/4 of the dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Top salad with pecan crusted chicken tenders and drizzle remaining dressing over top.
• Beverage suggestion: serve cran-raspberry apple juice over ice and top with a splash of soda water.

PECAN-CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another shallow bowl, beat the egg. Dip chicken in egg, then roll in pecan mixture. , In a large skillet, cook chicken in a oil for 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. In a small bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients. Serve with chicken.

HONEY PECAN CHICKEN STRIPS

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and hot sauce, then toss to combine. Allow to marinate 15 to 30 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, pecans and seasoning salt. Mix well and set aside.
• Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over a medium heat until it reaches 375 degrees F.
• Place a small pan over a low heat and add the honey and butter. Allow the honey to warm and the butter to melt.
• Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the buttermilk a few pieces at a time, then add to the flour/pecan mixture, turning to coat thoroughly. Place on a plate. Continue with the remaining chicken until it is all coated.
• Cook the chicken in the skillet in batches, flipping halfway through, until they are golden and crisp, about 4 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the chicken to a platter and drizzle over half of the honey butter. Garnish with the parsley. Serve with the remaining honey butter on the side for dipping.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN SALAD WITH TANGY MAPLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Set out 3 shallow dishes.
• Place flour in 1 dish, eggs beaten with a splash of water in a second. In the third dish, combine bread crumbs with ground pecans, nutmeg and orange zest.
• Coat tenders in batches in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture. Fry tenders in small batches 6 to 7 minutes. Drain tenders on paper towels.
• Dressing:
• Combine maple syrup, barbecue sauce and orange juice in a bowl. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine salad ingredients in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter. Toss with 3/4 of the dressing.
• Top salad with pecan crusted chicken tenders and drizzle remaining dressing over top.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare chicken breasts into cutlets, cutting into thirds and gently pounding to an even thickness of 1/2 inch (easier and cleaner if done between two layers of plastic wrap).
• Blend egg whites, cornstarch, and lemon juice with a fork in a wide, shallow dish; set aside.
• Combine bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, zest, pecans, and seasonings in another wide shallow dish.
• Crust chicken breasts by dipping both sides of prepared chicken into egg white mixture. Then applying crumbs to both sides, patting them on as much as possible. Transfer to a cookie rack to air-dry on both sides for 20-30 minutes. (This will set crust so it will stay on chicken and crisp up nicely).
• Sauté chicken in oil in a large, nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp on bottom. Turn carefully with a spatula and transfer the skillet to the oven to finish cooking. This should take about 8 more minutes. Don't overcook, you don't want it to dry out.

TGIFRIDAY'S PECAN-CRUSTED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the pecan-crusted chicken first since it is served cold.
• Pound each chicken fillet to about 1/2-inch thick. You can do this easily by covering each chicken breast in plastic wrap, and pounding with a kitchen mallet.
• Combine 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, corn flake crumbs, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow bowl.
• Combine milk with beaten eggs in another shallow bowl.
• Dump the flour into another shallow bowl.
• Bread each chicken breast by coating each with flour.
• Dip the flour-dusted chicken into the egg mixture.
• Coat the chicken with a thick coating of the pecans and corn flake crumbs.
• Preheat 1/2 cup canola oil in a large skillet over medium/low heat.
• When the oil is hot, saute the chicken fillets for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
• Cool chicken on a rack or paper-towels.
• When you can handle the chicken, cover it and refrigerate it for at least two hours.
• As the chicken chills, you can make the balsamic vinaigrette by combining 1 cup canola oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp salt in a blender.
• Blend on low speed for just a few seconds, or until the dressing begins to thicken. Don't blend too long or your vinaigrette will get too thick, like mayonnaise.
• Pour vinaigrette into a small bowl and mix in minced garlic.
• Chill this until you're ready to use it.
• When you're ready to build your salad, toss lettuce and celery with about 3/4 cup of the balsamic vinaigrette.
• Arrange the lettuce on four plates, then sprinkle the cranberries over the lettuce (about 1/4 cup per serving).
• Combine the 3 tablespoons of brown sugar with 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the mixture on each salad.
• Sprinkle about 1/2 can of drained mandarin orange segments over each salad, followed by about 2 tablespoons of crumbled bleu cheese.
• Slice each chicken fillet into thin strips. Arrange one sliced chicken fillet on top of each salad and serve.

CONTEST-WINNING PECAN-CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat egg whites. In another shallow bowl, combine coating mix, pecans and five-spice powder. Dip chicken into egg whites, then roll in coating mixture., Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°.