Crispy Breaded Chicken With Fennel Salad Recipes

CRISPY, BREADED CHICKEN WITH FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• For the chicken: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Fill a 14-inch cast-iron skillet with enough canola oil to come halfway up the side. Heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 350 to 375 degrees F (or a few panko breadcrumbs bubble up when sprinkled into the skillet).
• Meanwhile, place 1 chicken breast in a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat tenderizer, evenly pound the breast until about 1/4 inch thick. Remove to a plate and repeat with the 2nd breast. Reserve the resealable plastic bag.
• Add the flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the same bag and shake to combine. Add 1 breast at a time and shake to coat.
• Beat the eggs in a medium shallow bowl. In another medium shallow bowl, combine the panko with both sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, the garlic powder and cayenne. Stir to combine.
• Dip each floured breast in the egg, coating both sides and then dredge in the panko, pressing to help the crumbs adhere. Return the breaded chicken to the plate.
• Carefully lower the chicken in the hot oil and cook until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you make the salad.
• For the salad: Combine the lemon zest and juice, olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, honey and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk together.
• Halve the fennel lengthwise, cut out and discard the core, then thinly slice the fennel crosswise into half-moons and tear the fronds into pieces. Add both to the bowl.
• Halve, core and thinly slice the apple. Add to the bowl along with the walnuts and parsley. Toss and taste for seasoning.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, place on a platter then mound the salad on top. Serve right away.

CRISPY GARLIC BREADCRUMB CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
• Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over high heat. Add chicken breasts. Sear, untouched, until bottoms release from the pan, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter and let melt. Add panko bread crumbs. Cook and stir until breadcrumbs start to turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn off heat and add parsley and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Set breading aside.
• Combine mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Spread 'glue' over the top and sides of the chicken breasts. Spoon over the the breadcrumb mixture. Use a spatula to transfer chicken breasts back to the skillet. Pour chicken broth around the chicken.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 10 to 12 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to a plate and let rest while you make the pan sauce.
• Pour chicken broth and lemon juice into the pan. Bring to a boil over high heat and add balsamic vinegar. Boil until sauce is reduced, about 2 minutes. Strain sauce and spoon around chicken.

CRISPY ORANGE CHICKEN WITH FENNEL, AVOCADO AND ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, whisk together orange juice, champagne vinegar, sugar, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Set aside.
• Chop fennel bulb into small cubes. Peel avocado, remove pit and chop into small cubes. Cut chile in half lengthwise, remove and discard seeds and finely mince. Add remaining zest of 1 orange, fennel, avocado and chile to dressing; toss gently and refrigerate while preparing chicken.
• Preheat oven to 200°F Place flour in shallow bowl; combine with remaining salt and pepper. In second shallow bowl, beat eggs well with fork. Place panko breadcrumbs in third shallow bowl; stir in zest from one orange.
• In large skillet over medium-high heat, warm oil. Dredge each chicken fillet in flour mixture, then dip in eggs and coat with panko-orange mixture. Place coated chicken in hot oil and saute, about 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked throughout. Remove chicken with tongs and place on cooling rack over a cookie sheet in oven to keep warm.
• To serve, place salad on plates. Top each salad with one or two chicken fillets.

CRISPY WONTON CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sesame oil, peach preserves, mayonnaise, soy sauce, chili powder and onion powder, and season to taste with salt.
• Prepare the salad: Add the chicken to the dressing and toss.
• To fry the wonton wrappers, cut the squares into 1/2-inch strips, then cut those strips in half crosswise to shorten them. In a medium saucepan, heat an inch of oil over medium to 350 degrees, or until a wonton strip immediately bubbles when added. Carefully add the wonton strips to the hot oil and, stirring constantly with a slotted spoon, fry until puffy and golden, 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Transfer the crispy wontons to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• Assemble the salad: Add the chopped romaine, scallions, cilantro, mint and half of the fried wontons to the bowl with the dressed chicken, and toss to combine. Season with salt as needed. Top with the remaining fried wontons and serve immediately.

CHICKEN AND FENNEL SALAD SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Roast chickens:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Rinse chickens inside and out and pat dry. Stir together salt and pepper, then sprinkle over chickens inside and out. Put 1 tablespoon softened butter evenly under skin of each breast, then rub remaining tablespoon butter over skin of each. Arrange chickens in a 17- by 12-inch shallow heavy baking pan and roast, switching position of chickens and rotating pan halfway through roasting to help cook evenly, until thermometer inserted into fleshy part of each thigh (do not touch bone) registers 170°F, about 1 hour. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Discard skin and bones from chickens, then coarsely shred meat and transfer to a large bowl.
• Make dressing and assemble sandwiches:
• Stir together mayonnaise, yogurt, zest, lemon juice, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, and basil, then pour over chicken in bowl. Add chopped fennel and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve chicken salad in rolls.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH FENNEL AND CHARRED DATES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together the sliced fennel, shallot and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on top, but don't stir.
• In a medium (10-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the dates and cook, stirring halfway through, until blistered in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, turn off the heat, then add the fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes. Swirl until sizzling and fragrant, then immediately pour the oil and dates over the chicken. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust with salt, pepper, red-pepper flakes and lemon juice. Top with some torn fennel fronds.