Chicken Francaise

We believe this dish was created in America by Italian immigrants.  As with numerous Italian chicken dishes,  they were originally intended for veal but taste equally good with chicken.  But back to the name, why an American Italian dish is called “French”, maybe it’s because of all the butter, maybe the wine, but one thing for sure, the flavors are superb!

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• Half cup plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 handful of fresh parsley
• 50g – 2oz Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 garlic cloves
• 4 tbs olive oil
• 4 tbs butter
• Half lemon
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Remove chicken skin, then butterfly cut your breast. (Hold a long shark knife along the thicker part of the breast, place your hand on top and slice through the breast almost until the end. Cut parallel to your cutting board,  and open the breast like a book).
2. Place cling film on a board, add your breast spread open, sandwich it in cling film and flatten using the flat side of a meat mallet or the underside of a saucepan.
3. Crack the eggs into a dish large enough to fit chicken breast.
4. Season eggs with salt and pepper, give them a light beat.
5. Chop the parsley (keep a few sprigs for garnish) and add half to egg wash.
6. Grate all the Parmesan cheese and add to egg-wash, mix well.
7. Get your wine and chicken stock portions ready.
8. Add the plain flour to a plate.
9. Peel the garlic and place in garlic press (or chop finely).
10. To a frying pan on moderate heat, add the olive oil and half the butter.
11. Coat the chicken in the flour, shake off any excess flour.
12. Dip the chicken in the egg wash, make sure it’s totally covered and place in hot oil.
13. Cook for approx 4 minutes each side (depending on thickness).
14. Flip over once brown and cook the other side.
15. Transfer chicken to a hot plate and rest.
16. To the same frying pan on full heat, add the white wine.
17. Add the crushed garlic.
18. Add the squeeze of half a lemon.
19. Add the chicken stock.
20. Add the remainder of chopped parsley.
21. Add the remainder of butter and reduce for 2 minutes on full heat.
22. Return the chicken to the sauce and continue heating chicken on medium heat.
23. Serve the chicken, and reduce the sauce until it looks a little thicker (not too thick)