Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Fresh Tomato Basil Sauce
Makes:
4 servings
Total Time:
20 min
Submitted by:
Category:
Dinner Entrees
Sub Category: Chicken & Turkey Entrees
what you need
- 2 cups shredded parmesan, available in tubs near deli -- make sure to get shredded cheese, not grated
- Coarse salt and pepper
- 4 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 plum Roma tomatoes or small, vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 15 to 20 leaves fresh basil – chiffonade (cut into long, thin strips)
make it
Roll out a 2-foot piece of waxed paper or foil near the stove top. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat -- your pan must be very hot when the chicken is added. Pile the shredded cheese on the work surface created with the waxed paper or foil. Season your chicken breasts with black pepper but no salt; the cheese will add enough salt to the taste of the dish. Press the breasts firmly into the cheese. Coat both sides of breasts with as much cheese as possible.
Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet, 1 turn of the pan. Set breasts into the skillet and cook 7 minutes on each side, until cheese forms an even, golden casing around the tender chicken breasts.
While chicken cooks, combine chopped tomatoes with basil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Drain off any excess oil from chicken as you remove it from the skillet. Top chicken with big spoonfuls of sauce.
Notes
From Rachel Ray of the Food Channel
