Lemon Chicken Picatta

Chicken...With Lemon

What Is Lemon Chicken Picatta?

Lemon Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American cuisine, renowned for its vibrant taste and elegantly simple style. This dish features thinly sliced chicken breasts, lightly coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden. The sauce, a distinctive aspect, comprises fresh lemon juice, capers, and typically white wine or chicken broth, resulting in a tangy, mildly salty, and flavorful enhancement to the chicken.

Garnished with parsley, it offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures, balancing the zest of lemon, the sharp bite of capers, enhancing the tender chicken. This popular dish is a staple in many Italian restaurants and is also easy to make at home.

Ingredients For Lemon Chicken Picatta

Produce

Parsley

2 Lemons

1 Shallot

2 Garlic Cloves

Refrigerated

5 Tbsp Butter

Grocery

1 Cup Chicken Stock

1 Cup Flour

2 oz Capers

Meat

3 Boneless Chicken Breasts

Spices

1 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Black Pepper

How To Make Lemon Chicken Picatta

Step 1

Prep Produce

Start by finely mincing shallots and garlic, which will form the flavorful base of your Lemon Chicken Piccata. Choose fresh parsley for a bright, herbal touch, and slice the lemon for zest and juice, essential for that tangy kick.

Mince shallots and garlic as finely as possible to ensure they blend smoothly into the sauce, releasing their flavors without overpowering the dish.

Chop parsley roughly for garnishing and slice the lemon for juice. Parsley, with its bright green color and fresh, clean flavor, adds a herbal touch that beautifully contrasts the richness of the sauce. Meanwhile, lemons are the unsung heroes of Piccata. Not only does their juice infuse the sauce with a necessary tangy kick, but the zest also adds a deeper, more nuanced citrus note.

Step 2

Prep & Cook Chicken

Filet the chicken breasts to an even thickness for consistent cooking.

Season them generously with salt and pepper. This simple seasoning will enhance the natural flavors of the chicken. Ensure each chicken breast is of uniform thickness to guarantee even cooking and a juicy finish.

Coat the seasoned chicken lightly in flour. The flour forms a barrier, allowing the chicken to cook perfectly inside while creating a golden-brown crust outside. As you pan-fry the chicken, watch as it transforms into a beautiful golden brown. This color is not just for show; it’s a sign of developed flavor.

Pan-fry the chicken in a preheated skillet until it’s golden brown and cooked through. This step is crucial for achieving a deliciously crispy exterior.

Let the cooked chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Once cooked, let the chicken rest. This isn’t downtime; it’s an essential step where the chicken reabsorbs its juices, ensuring every bite is moist and tender.

Step 3

Make Sauce

Sauté the shallots until soft and translucent, as they form the flavor base of your sauce.

Add the garlic and cook for about a minute until fragrant. Be careful not to overcook, as burnt garlic will impart a bitter taste.

The next step is to create a roux by adding flour. This isn’t just about thickening; it’s about adding depth. The flour cooks out into a nutty, toasty flavor base.

Stir in the capers for their unique, briny flavor, which is a signature element of piccata sauce. I got my capers from Walmart.

Deglaze the pan with white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine reduce slightly to concentrate the flavors.

Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice into the sauce, stirring gently as the wine simmers and infuses its flavors into the mixture.

Pour in the chicken stock and let the sauce simmer to meld the flavors together and achieve the desired consistency.

Finish the sauce with a knob of butter, stirring it in off the heat for a smooth, velvety texture.

Step 4

Add Chicken To Sauce

Returning the chicken to the sauce is more than just combining two elements; it’s about letting them marry, letting the chicken absorb the flavors of the sauce, and the sauce take on some of the chicken’s richness. Spooning the sauce over the chicken ensures every inch is covered, every bite as flavorful as the next.

Sprinkling freshly chopped parsley over the chicken isn’t just a final flourish. It’s a crucial addition that brings a fresh, herbaceous note, cutting through the richness and brightening the entire dish.

Step 5

Enjoy Your Lemon Chicken Picatta!

Your Lemon Chicken Piccata is now ready to be enjoyed. The dish should look as appetizing as it tastes, with a beautiful balance of colors and textures.

The Bear

Inspiration

Season 1 Episode 2, Camry’s Chicken Picatta

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