Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Chicken Francese and Egg Tagliatelle

  • 1/2 cup fresh flat leaf parsley leaves
  • 2 anchovy fillets
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Zest and juice of 2 lemons Salt
  • 1 pound egg tagliatelle
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • All-purpose flour, for dredging
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine

Warm a serving platter in a 250°F oven.

Pile the parsley, anchovies and garlic on a cutting board and finely chop them together. Mix in the lemon zest.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.

Meanwhile, cut into and across the chicken breasts and open them like a book. Pound into very thin cutlets, 1/8-1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides, then dredge in flour to coat. Beat the eggs in a shallow dish with a splash of water.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Dip 2 pieces of the chicken in the egg to coat, then saute until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the warm platter. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet and cook the remaining pieces of chicken. Add to the platter.

Add the chicken stock, wine and lemon juice to the skillet and simmer until slightly reduced. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and stir until melted. Add the chicken to the sauce, turning it to coat, then return the chicken to the platter. Add half the parsley-anchovy gremolata to the sauce, then add the pasta and toss for 1-2 minutes.

Garnish the chicken with the remaining gremolata and serve alongside the pasta.