Creative Cooking with Southern Flair!
Parmesan Chicken
Lemon Artichoke,
"Pine nut and Parmesan encrusted chicken, pan fried in olive oil, with bow tie pasta and a creamy lemon, basil, artichoke sauce."
Ingredients
12 ounces bow tie pasta (or preferred) cooked in salted water to desired doneness.
Artichoke Basil Paste
1 cup lightly packed, fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup lightly packed, baby spinach
1/2 cup artichokes hearts, chopped, excess water squeezed out
3 tablespoons pine-nuts
3 large cloves garlic
¼ cup good quality, olive oil
Salt
Bechamel
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon, plus a pinch dried marjoram
3 cups room temp half & half
Salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh, lemon zest
Sautéed onions/artichokes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, cubed
1 cup halved, baby artichoke hearts, liquid squeezed out.
1 tablespoon capers
Pan Fried Chicken
2 large chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise-pounded flat ¼ inch thickness
1/2 cup pine-nuts
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh, cracked pepper
All purpose flour for dredging
2 eggs, whisked
Salt
Parchment paper
Olive oil
5 large garlic cloves, sliced into 1/4's
Directions
Artichoke Basil Paste
Add all ingredients, except the olive oil to a food processor and pulse until smooth. Scrape down the sides and drizzle in the olive oil while pulsing. Salt to taste.
Bechamel
Melt the butter over medium heat in a sauce pan. Whisk in the flour and marjoram, bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the half & half, season with salt (to taste) and add the pepper. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and whisk in the artichoke basil paste. Let cool some, then pour into a blender. Add the white balsamic vinegar, lemon zest and purée, starting on low speed until sauce is very creamy. Adjust salt & pepper if needed.
Sautéed Onions/artichokes
Heat the olive oil in a 11 inch skillet. Add the onions and cook until edges start to brown. Add the artichokes and capers, season lightly with salt and cook until artichokes start to take on some color. Add the artichoke sauce, stir and remove from heat.
Pan Fried Chicken
Pulse the pine nuts in a small food processor until crumbs form, or place in a zip-lock back and pound with a rolling pin. Add the pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, oregano and pepper to a bowl and mix well.
Place the cutlets on a sheet of parchment paper and season both sides with salt. Dredge cutlets in the flour, shaking off excess, dip in the egg, shaking off excess and place back on the parchment paper. Sprinkle the tops with the pine nut, Parmesan mixture, then turn over and sprinkle the opposite sides. "Don't dredge the chicken into the mixture or it will become too compacted."
Heat a 12" non-stick skillet over medium-high temperature and fill with 1/4 inch of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add the garlic and chicken cutlets, being sure not to overcrowd. Cook in 2 batches if needed. Cook each cutlet 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the garlic slices as they brown and set aside.
Warm the sauce, arrange some of the pasta on a serving dish and pour the sauce over top of it. Arrange the chicken on top followed with the sautéed vegetables. Finish with the fried garlic slices, fresh shaved Parmesan, chopped Italian parsley and lemon wedges.