Flattened Chicken Breast Recipe J.P.
- 1 double chicken breast with skin (or two halves) - preferably organic/free range
- 3/4 tsp sea salt - do not use table or kosher salt
- 1 carrot, 1 stalk celery, 1 small onion
- flour to coat, 1 beaten egg & seasoned breadcrumbs, store-bought OK
- about 1-1/2 tablespoons white vermouth, optional
- At least 1 day before planning to serve, sprinkle the chicken breast with 3/4 tsp sea salt per pound of chicken (a la Judy Rodgers.)
- Wrap chicken and place in refrigerator.
- Doing this several days ahead is okay.
- On the day you plan to serve, take chicken breasts from fridge, wipe dry and filet the breasts reserving the skin and bones.
- Dont worry about cutting the filets cleanly you learn by doing, a sloppy filet wont matter at all and a little meat sticking to the bones will improve the sauce.
- Return chicken and skin to refrigerator until later.
- Right after fileting the chicken breast, roughly chop the onion, celery and carrot and put in a small sauce pan with the chicken bones.and whatever herbs and spices are at hand a small stalk of thyme and a few peppercorns are nice but not necessary.
- Add boiling water to cover and then leave to simmer over very low heat for several hours checking occasionally to make sure you dont let it get dry.
- About an hour before serving (2 hours if youre not very experienced,) strain the stock youve made from the bones and place in a small pan.
- Add the vermouth, if using, and then simmer while you fix everything else.
- You want the sauce to reduce to just a few very flavorful tablespoons.
- Place chicken skin in a heavy frying pan over medium heat, cooking like bacon and turning occasionally while you ...
- Pound the chicken flat.
- Take a 1-gallon size freezer bag and cut the edges so the two sides of the bag remain attached only at the bottom.
- Take 1 chicken breast and place between the sheets of plastic and pound with a rolling pin until the breast is about 1/4" thick and roughly 8" around.
- Put that breast aside and pound out the other.
- Bread the chicken: Have three plates in a row.
- Put flower in the first, the beaten egg in the second and the breadcrumbs in the third.
- Take one of the pounded breasts and cover it with as much flour as will stick to it, knocking off the excess.
- Dip the floured breast in the egg until covered with the egg and then cover with breadcrumbs.
- By now the chicken skin should be crisp.
- Remove from pan to a piece of paper towel to drain.
- There should be enough chicken fat in the pan to fry the fillets, but if you need a little more add a tablespoon or so of olive oil.
- Fry each of the chicken pieces in the chicken fat for about 90 seconds to 2 minutes per side until golden brown and delicious looking.
- When the first is ready remove to the plate on which it will be served.
- No need to keep warm in the oven as the other will be done in a moment.
- When both pieces are done, drizzle on the reduced stock thats been simmering away and serve with a simple green salad.
- Put the fried chicken skins on top of the chicken breast or salad or just eat them in the kitchen as the cooks treat.
- For me, theyre the best part.
chicken, salt, carrot, flour, white vermouth
Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/flattened-chicken-breast-11911 (may not work)