Weekend Cooking: Parmigiano-Reggiano-Crusted Chicken Piccata

It's been a few weeks since I've participated in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads. The last few Saturday mornings have found us in hotels (traveling to Daughter #1's college basketball games), but the games are 'home' this weekend. That means more time in the car driving back and forth both days, but at least we get to sleep in our own bed!

While preparing one of my favorite dinners earlier this week, I couldn't help but think of "Weekend Cooking". The Parmigiano-Reggiano Crusted Chicken Picatta from EveryDay with Rachel Ray magazine is just delicious... and so quick and easy! My husband and daughters seriously questioned my sanity as I tried to photograph their dinner, but I wasn't deterred. In the end though, my pictures were terrible. This one appeared in the magazine. There's a reason they professional food photographers!

PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO-CRUSTED CHICKEN PICATTA

(from EveryDay with Rachel Ray)

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup flour

2 eggs

1-1/4 cups grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, pounded 1/4 inch thick

Salt

1/2 pound angel hair pasta

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Juice of 1 lemon, plus 1 sliced lemon

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup capers, drained and patted dry, or 12 caper berries, sliced

1/2 cup dry white wine (eyeball it)

1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

One 5-ounce package baby spinach

Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Place the flour on a plate. In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs; place 1 cup cheese on another plate. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, coat the chicken with the flour, then egg, then cheese, pressing to adhere. Transfer to a plate.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt, then the pasta and cook until al dente, 3 minutes. Drain, reserving a ladleful of water.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until deeply golden, 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, to the skillet. Add the sliced lemon, garlic and capers and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the wine and parsley and cook until reduced, 1 minute. Lower the heat and bring to a simmer.

Stir the chicken broth into the sauce for 1 minute. Stir in the butter until melted, then stir in the lemon juice. Spoon a little sauce over the chicken. Add the spinach to the remaining sauce in the skillet and cook until wilted. Add the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir in the pasta and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Add the remaining 1/4 cup cheese and toss. Serve the pasta with the chicken.

Notes:

I use Wegman's Italian Blend fresh grated cheese. The recipe is still delicious without the parsley (why can't I remember to buy it?). I often skip the pasta, and serve it with roasted asparagus (or other vegies) and a salad.

More Weekend Cooking posts can be found at Beth Fish Reads.