Chicken Milanese With Escarole Salad Recipes

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 WITH ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss breadcrumbs and oil until well combined; spread on sheet. Cook, tossing once, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Place flour and eggs in separate bowls; season with salt and pepper. Place a rack on another rimmed baking sheet.
• One at a time, place chicken breasts between two large pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or bottom of a small heavy pan, pound until 1/2 inch thick. Coat chicken on both sides with flour (shaking off excess), then dip in eggs (allowing excess to drip off); dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to adhere.
• Bake chicken on rack, without turning, until opaque throughout, 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tablespoons oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Add arugula and onion; toss. Top chicken with salad; serve with lemon wedges on the side.

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 AND ESCAROLE SALAD WITH ANCHOVY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken, skin-side down, and cook without moving until the pieces are golden brown and crispy, 5 to 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and continue to cook until well browned on the other side, another 5 to 8 minutes.
• Move the chicken to one side of the skillet and tilt the skillet a little so that the fat and drippings pool on one side. Add the anchovies and let them sizzle a bit to melt down. Add the croutons, along with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss them to coat in the anchovy-chicken fat.
• Place the skillet in the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through and croutons are golden brown and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the grated garlic, lemon juice and soy sauce in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Place escarole and parsley in a large bowl or on a platter and dress with lemon-garlic mixture. Season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice if you like. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and shave some pecorino over the whole thing.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest a minute or two. Cut the meat off the bone and thinly slice. Place on top of the salad, along with the croutons. Top each serving with an egg yolk, if using, and more anchovies, if you like.

CHICKEN MILANESE WITH TOMATO, MOZZARELLA AND BASIL SALAD

Steps:

• Lightly season chicken cutlets all over with salt and pepper; let rest while you make the basil oil.
• In a blender or food processor, combine 2/3 cup oil, basil, garlic and salt to taste; purée until smooth.
• In a medium bowl, toss tomatoes and mozzarella with about half of the basil oil and salt to taste. Set aside.
• Place flour in a shallow bowl or plate. Pour eggs into another shallow dish; combine panko and Parmesan in a third dish.
• In a large skillet, melt butter and remaining 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. As it heats, dip a chicken cutlet in flour, shake off excess, then dip in eggs. Shake off excess, then dip both sides in panko mixture and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cutlets.
• When oil is hot, fry 2 cutlets at a time until bottoms are golden, about 3 minutes. Flip and fry until golden and crispy all over, about another 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle immediately with salt.
• Taste tomato-mozzarella salad and add more salt and-or basil oil if needed. Serve cutlets topped with a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of remaining basil oil and tomato-mozzarella salad.

CHICKEN BREAST ALA ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Mix together crumbs, garlic and Parmesan cheese and set aside.
• Pound chicken breast lightly to even out thickness (not too thin).
• Dip chicken in egg, then in flour.
• Saute in 2 T oil in large skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side until lightly browned.
• Add half of escarole to skillet, sprinkle with half of bread crumb mixture.
• Add remaining escarole and bread crumbs.
• Pour in broth, then drizzle with remaining olive oil.
• Simmer, covered on low about 15 minutes, until escarole is wilted and chicken is done.

EASY CHICKEN MILANESE WITH A LEMONY ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200° F (this is to keep the first batch of cutlets warm while you cook the rest).
• Prepare the chicken: Pat dry the chicken breasts and place them on a cutting board. Butterfly each chicken breast in half lengthwise by cutting to, but not through, the opposite side using a sharp knife and holding it parallel to the cutting board. This will leave you with four, butterflied portions. Open up the piece of chicken like a book (each half should be about ¼-inch thick. If thicker than that, place the chicken between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap and pound it to about ¼-inch thickness, using the flat side of a meat tenderizer. See note *, below.). If the chicken breasts are larger (about 8 oz. each), use only 2 of them and butterfly each into two separate cutlets, leaving you with four, individual portions of about 4 oz. each.
• Prepare your workstation: Put the flour in one shallow and wide bowl (or, a soup plate). Beat the eggs and place them in a second shallow bowl. Combine the breadcrumbs, panko and Parmesan cheese and place that in a third shallow bowl. Season both sides of your chicken with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. One by one, dredge the seasoned chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip it in the egg wash, then dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture; pat it lightly. Transfer the chicken pieces to a wire rack and chill them uncovered for at least 30 minutes, or, refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
• For the salad: Pour the olive oil and the lemon juice in a small jar and season with salt and pepper. Shake well to combine and set aside. In a bowl toss together the arugula and thinly sliced onion or shallot ribbons.
• Set a large, non-stick, 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add half of the olive oil and half of the butter and swirl it around. When it is hot, slip in two cutlets (or, as many as can fit comfortably without overlapping), making sure to let them fall away from you so you do not get burned. Cook for 3 minutes, or, until golden brown on the first side. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes more or until cooked through (cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken). Using tongs, transfer the chicken to an ovenproof plate, sprinkle lightly with a little salt and pop them into the oven to keep warm. At this point, if the butter in the skillet looks burnt, wipe the pan clean. Add the remaining olive oil and the remaining butter and cook the two other cutlets.
• Arrange the chicken on a warmed serving platter, or, place on individual plates and sprinkle with the parsley. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and mix to combine. Top each chicken with some of the salad. Serve immediately, with a lemon wedge on the side.

PORK MILANESE & ESCAROLE SALAD WITH PICKLED RED ONIONS, HAZELNUTS & PECORINO

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar with 1/2 cup cold water. Add the salt, sugar, and Tabasco and stir. Add the sliced onions and let sit for at least 1 hour.
• Set up your standard breading procedure (see page 51): one bowl with the flour, one with the egg-water mixture, and one with the panko and grated Parmigiano combined. Have a baking sheet handy to hold the pork after breading.
• Season the pork with salt. Using one hand for dry ingredients and one hand for wet, take each piece of pork through the breading procedure: Dredge it lightly in the flour, shake off the excess, dip it in the egg wash, then pack on the panko. Lay the breaded pork on the baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 200°F.
• Pour 1/2 inch of olive oil into a large sauté pan and bring to medium-high heat. Set up your drying situation next to the stove by lining a baking sheet with a couple layers of paper towels. Test to see if the oil is hot enough by sprinkling a bit of flour or a few bread crumbs into it. It should sizzle; if it doesn't-WAIT. Once the oil is hot, add the pork, working in batches so you don't crowd the pan. Cook the first side of the pork until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes; turn and brown the other side. When the pork is done, lay it on the paper towels to drain off the excess oil and sprinkle with salt. Then keep the pork in the oven while you cook the second batch.
• Put the Pecorino, hazelnuts, and parsley in the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• In a large bowl, combine the escarole, hazelnut mix, and some of the pickled red onions; dress this mixture with olive oil and some of the pickling liquid and toss to combine. To serve, place a pork chop on a serving plate and top with the lovely salad.
• It's good to bread ahead! If you have the time, let the pork sit for about an hour to really set the breading. If you're in a hurry-skip it.