Friday, February 11, 2011

The Student and Lemon Chicken Paillard

I've posted this recipe before, it is a family favorite in this house. 

Yesterday the 17 year old KidAdult asked me if I would teach him how to make it. Really? Okay. I'm all about self-sufficiency. 

The cook became the assistant and we set up the kitchen for a Paillard Lesson. He donned an apron (it took him a bit to choose an appropriate "man" apron, on my instruction washed his hands and the lesson began. 

Learning how to zest a lemon using a microplane

Dipping and breading the chicken

Learning about shallow frying and the dangers of hot oil and the joy of a proper kitchen hat

It's funny what conversations come up when you're busy in the kitchen. During the course of zesting and dipping and frying the newly trained chef happened to mention that he wanted to make this meal for his new "friend". 

Oh.

And he casually suggested that he'd like to make this on Saturday night and didn't I have plans to be out? Wasn't there a new movie I was just itching to see? 

Double Oh. 

The Paillard turned out beautifully and I guess I'll be going to the movies on Saturday night. I do hope there are leftovers when I get home.



Lemon Chicken Paillard with Mixed Green Salad (serves 4)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup flour
2 or 3 eggs, slightly beaten with a splash of milk
2 cups panko bread crumbs
Zest of one lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Dressing: (optional, a honey mustard or light Italian would go equally as well)

2 anchovy fillets
2 egg yolks**
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup extra-virgin ollive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 bag baby arugula
1/2 cup shredded carrots
5 artichoke hearts, halved
1 head Romaine, sliced
Any other green you want to add
Lemon wedges for garnish

Begin by pounding out the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.
Hint: "pounding" is really not what you want to do. You want to "sweep" out from the center. Hit and sweep. You are really pulling the meat, not pounding it. You want a nice thin, even breast that will cook quickly and evenly.

Set up a breading station with 3 pie plates. In one place the flour, in the other place the egg and in the last, the panko. Season the flour, egg and panko with salt and pepper, add the lemon zest to the egg. Dip the chicken first in the flour, then the egg, then the panko. Set on a rack to dry for about 10 minutes.
Place about an inch of oil in a frying pan. Fry the chicken paillards in hot oil for approximately 3 minutes per side until crisp and golden. Drain well, season with salt and set aside.

For the dressing:
Put the anchovies, egg yolks, garlic, and lemon juice into a blender and process until smooth. With the blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Stir in the parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
Mix all your ingredients for your salad together, add dressing and toss to coat.

Plating:
Place one paillard on a plate. Mound some salad on top. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Repeat with remaining paillard.

A Cook's Notes: If you are squeamish about raw egg yolks, use 2 tablespoons mayonnaise.

9 comments:

  1. Great to see your son trying his hand at cooking. I will be trying that dish soon.

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  2. Awww...that is so sweet. What movie are you going to go see????

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  3. Sweet. Lucky girlfriend. Enjoy the movie.

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  4. Oh yummy. I may just make this tonight. I believe I have all the ingredients on hand.

    I hope the girlfriend is impressed. I certainly would have been. I am certain there will be leftovers. Most 'new friends' are not going to pig out that early in the relationship.

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  5. My most favorite thing about cooking in the kitchen with my adult children or one of my little's is the wonderful conversations we have. It has always seemed that they feel the most comfortable revealing information about their lives while in thick of creating a dish or washing dishes together. Very neat that he wants to cook a meal for his friend. Sounds delicious!

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  6. I love that he wants to cook for his friend. Very sweet and nurturing. He's his mama's son!

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  7. he looks a bit serious! hope the night goes well for him, and enjoy your movie!

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  8. Nice that he agreed to have his pic taken. What a nice looking young man! And the chicken looks scrumptious.

    I remember when my eldest son was graduating from high school. He did not have a girlfriend and told me he was going to the grad dance with a group of kids.

    About 2 days before the big dance, as we were making pancakes in the kitchen, he told me he needed a pink tie.
    "Oh?"
    "To go with Debbie's (or whatever her name was)pink dress.

    Double oh

    Well, I got the tie. They went to the dance and I never heard about this girl again!

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  9. Oh, hope the dinner turns out well and you get to watch a good movie! If I didn't live in Canada, I'd go with you. LOL!

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Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I love feedback... what with being a cook and all. I will respond to your comments via email (if you do not have a "noreply" address or here, below your comment) As always, Bon Appetite!

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