One of our favourite midweek recipes is this one created by the late Gary Rhodes.
We do sometimes add chips or a baked potato on the side but the coating of the chicken is just delicious combined with the tomatoes!
Ingredients (Serves 4)
4 skinless chicken fillets
salt and pepper
flour, for dusting
75g/3oz fresh white or wholegrain breadcrumbs
50g/2oz finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 free-range eggs, beaten
olive oil
large knob of butter
6 tomatoes, halved
1-2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
Sea Salt
handful of fresh basil leaves
4 wedges of lemon
Method
Place the chicken breasts between cling film sheets and lightly bat, until about half to one centimetre/quarter to half an inch thick. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dust in flour to coat thoroughly, tapping away any excess.
Mix together the breadcrumbs and parmesan.
Dip the flattened chicken breasts (escalopes) in the beaten egg, followed by the Parmesan breadcrumbs.
Heat some olive oil with the butter in a large frying pan. Once sizzling, add the crumbed escalopes and cook for three to four minutes on each side until crispy and golden.
Place the escalopes on a baking tray and keep warm at 120 degrees in a preheated oven
For the soft basil tomatoes, preheat the grill and put the tomato halves on a baking tray, topping each with a slice of garlic. Season with a good twist of fresh black pepper and a sprinkling of sea salt.
Drizzle with olive oil and grill until just overdone, their softness providing the escalopes with a sauce to dip into.
Tear the basil leaves and scatter them over the tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil.
Serve the escalopes on a warm plate with the soft basil tomatoes and a wedge of lemon.