Sometimes, especially after a few days of heavy dinners, all you want is a light, good meal. "Light" as in you're trying to cut back, and "good" as in, can we make it taste good even though it's light?
This chicken cutlet recipe, with a caper shallot sauce, is just that, flavorful, filling, and won't weigh you down. You can make it all in one pot, takes about 30 minutes, and it's gluten-free too.
The idea for it came from my friend Peg, who is simply brilliant in the kitchen. It's sort of like a chicken piccata, but without the breading or lemon, and it is served with fresh arugula, thinly sliced fennel, and shaved Parmesan. Great for lunch or a simple dinner.
Updated from the recipe archive, first published 2011.
Chicken Cutlets With Caper Sauce
Ingredients
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2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
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2 chicken breast halves, pounded very thin, and then cut in half, so that you have 4 thin cutlets
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Salt
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1 large shallot, minced, about 2 tablespoons
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1/2 cup white wine or chicken stock
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1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
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1 tablespoon capers, drained
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2 to 3 cups arugula, torn into bite-sized pieces
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1/2 fennel bulb, shaved thin
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16 to 24 paper thin shavings Parmesan cheese
Method
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Sear the chicken cutlets:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a stick-free sauté pan over medium-high heat until almost smoking, about 1-2 minutes.
Sprinkle salt over the pounded chicken breasts and sear them for 2-3 minutes per side in the hot pan, working in batches so that you do not crowd the pan.
Remove the chicken breasts and cover with foil to keep them warm.
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Sauté the shallots:
Add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the shallots and cook 1 minute, stirring often. Do not let them burn, and if they begin to brown rapidly, turn the heat down.
Add the garlic and cook another 45 seconds to 1 minute, stirring often.
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Deglaze pan with wine, add capers, red pepper flakes:
Add the white wine and scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
Add the capers and red pepper flakes and boil until the wine is almost gone, about 2 to 4 minutes.
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Serve with arugula, shaved fennel, shaved Parmesan:
To serve, mix the arugula and shaved fennel and put some on each plate. Arrange some shaved parmesan over them.
Lay a piece of chicken on each salad, then top with a little of the sauce. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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222 | Calories |
11g | Fat |
4g | Carbs |
21g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 222 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 11g | 14% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 13% |
Cholesterol 56mg | 19% |
Sodium 364mg | 16% |
Total Carbohydrate 4g | 2% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
Total Sugars 1g | |
Protein 21g | |
Vitamin C 4mg | 19% |
Calcium 92mg | 7% |
Iron 1mg | 6% |
Potassium 294mg | 6% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |