My husband calls this chicken ‘panna cotta’ by the way.

Chicken piccata happens to be a childhood favorite of mine; tender chicken simmered in white wine, lemons and capers. It requires little effort, and I usually have most of the ingredients on hand (i.e. the wine).

This dish is very adaptable too. I’ve made it several different ways, including a version with mushrooms and beef stock. I also use half the amount of butter found in traditional recipes giving it a light and fresh update.

And I serve it over this-

Couscous was my original go-to, but the combination of cracked wheat or bulgur and baby spinach is my new standby. To make it extra flavorful, I cook the grains in chicken stock. The residual heat wilts the greens making it the perfect bed for this juicy dish.

FYI- I’ve pretty much replaced couscous exclusively with this alternative grain. Although the texture is very similar, cracked wheat is packed with protein and fiber making it a healthier option.

I use an instant kind which is conveniently ready 10 minutes.

If your ingredients are well organized, this meal will only take about 30 minutes to get on the table.

I somehow manage to destroy my kitchen whenever flour and chicken is involved, but the mess is well worth it. It has become an easy, weeknight staple in our house.

Besides, those of us who can’t get the name right should have to do the dishes anyways, don’t you think? ;)

Tips:

• To save on time, you can purchase thinly sliced chicken cutlets instead of regular sized chicken breasts. Or to save a couple bucks, simply slice them yourself.
• If you cannot find cracked wheat, try using couscous, rice or another grain of your choice.
• To make this gluten free, substitute with gluten free flour where applicable.

chicken piccata

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

I grew up eating chicken piccata. It's a meal time tradition I'm happy to continue. Watching my mom make this over the years, I've learned that it's all about organization. Here's my tip: while the chicken browns, use that time to prep the rest of your ingredients. Dice the shallots, open the wine (have a glass!) and make the garnish- this way, you're one step ahead.

Author: The Clever Carrot

Serves: 4

Ingredients

Chicken

• 1½ lbs. thinly sliced chicken cutlets
• ½ c. flour + 1 teaspoon, divided
• 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 2 tbsp. butter, divided
• ¼ c. shallots, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed with a garlic press
• ¼ c. white wine
• 1½ c. low- sodium chicken stock or broth
• 2 lemons
• 2 tbsp. brined capers, rinsed
• ½ tsp salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Garnish

• lemon slices
• 3 tbsp. roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley

Cracked wheat + spinach

• 1½ c. instant bulgur wheat
• 3 c. low-sodium chicken stock or broth
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1x 14 oz. bag baby spinach

Kitchen notes:

You will need a large, 12- inch skillet. Alternatively, brown the chicken in batches or use two pans if you're comfortable multitasking.

Substitutions:

• Couscous and Jasmine rice make excellent quick-cooking side dish options.

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of chicken stock to a boil. Add the bulgur wheat. Remove from the heat, and keep covered for about 20-25 minutes or until tender (drain any extra liquid if necessary). Add the olive oil and 2 handfuls of spinach. As you begin to stir, the residual heat will wilt the greens. Add the rest of the spinach and keep warm until ready to serve.
2. Add ½ c. flour to a shallow bowl; add the remaining 1 teaspoon to a separate bowl for the sauce.
3. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
4. Dredge the cutlets in flour shaking off any excess as you go. Transfer to a plate.
5. In a large 12-inch skillet, warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat. Add the chicken and brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Work in batches or use two separate pans. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Note: it is important to monitor the heat so that the flour does't burn. This will impart a bitter flavor to the sauce.
6. While the chicken is cooking, prep the rest of your ingredients. Dice the shallots, mince or crush the garlic, open the white wine, rinse your capers, chop your parsley, and slice the lemons for garnish. If you use this time wisely, the dish will come together quickly in the end.
7. To make the pan sauce, reduce the heat to low. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan. Saute the shallots until soft, but not colored, about 1 minute.
8. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
9. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Reduce the liquid by half.
10. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. To thicken the sauce, add a splash of stock to the reserved teaspoon of flour and whisk well to dissolve any lumps. Add the flour mixture to the pan, whisking constantly, until the sauce is slightly thickened.
11. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
12. Add the juice of half a lemon and sprinkle with capers.
13. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan.
14. Taste the dish; season with extra lemon juice, salt and pepper if desired.
15. To serve, transfer the chicken to a serving platter and spoon the sauce over the top.
16. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley.
17. Serve with bulgur wheat and spinach on the side.

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