Hazelnut and parmesan-crusted chicken
As if breaded chicken wasn’t delicious enough, James Martin adds chopped nuts, parmesan, thyme and lemon zest to the breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 40g/1½oz shelled hazelnuts
- 25g/1oz parmesan, freshly grated, plus extra for serving
- 2 lemons, zested then cut in half
- 2 sprigs thyme, leaves only
- 40g/1½oz Japanese panko breadcrumbs
- 75g/3oz plain flour
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 free-range eggs, beaten
- 250g/9oz butter
- 2 heads Little Gem lettuce, leaves separated
Method
Put the chicken between two pieces of greaseproof paper and flatten using a rolling pin until about 1cm thick.
Put the hazelnuts, parmesan, lemon zest and thyme into a food processor and blend to fine crumbs.
Add the breadcrumbs and pulse quickly to just break up the crumbs, then tip out onto a plate.
Scatter the flour onto a plate and season with salt and black pepper. Dust the chicken in the flour.
Put the beaten eggs in a bowl. Dip the chicken into the egg, then into the hazelnut breadcrumbs, making sure to coat each side thoroughly.
Heat the butter in a large frying pan, add the chicken breasts and fry until golden-brown - about five minutes on each side - basting with the butter as you go.
Drain onto kitchen paper and then finish with a little more parmesan cheese.
To serve, lay the chicken escalope on each plate and drizzle over all the remaining butter in the frying pan, then finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Pile the salad leaves alongside with a wedge of lemon.