Next-Level Chicken Piccata

Ainekset

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed

Kosher salt and pepper

2 large lemons

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 shallot, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup chicken broth

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces

2 tablespoons capers, drained

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Ohjeet

1. Cut each chicken breast in half crosswise, then cut thick half in half again horizontally, creating 3 cutlets of similar thickness. Place cutlets between sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound to even ½-inch thickness. Place cutlets in bowl and toss with 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside for 15 minutes.

2. Halve 1 lemon lengthwise. Trim ends from 1 half, halve lengthwise again, then cut crosswise ¼-inch-thick slices; set aside. Juice remaining half and whole lemon and set aside 3 tablespoons juice.

3. Spread flour in shallow dish. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, dredge cutlets in flour, shaking gently to remove excess. Place on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Place 6 cutlets in skillet, reduce heat to medium, and cook until golden brown on 1 side, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on second side, 2 to 3 minutes. Return cutlets to wire rack. Repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and remaining 6 cutlets.

4. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil and shallot to skillet and cook until softened, 1 minute. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add broth, reserved lemon juice, and reserved lemon slices and bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits.

5. Add cutlets to sauce and simmer for 4 minutes, flipping halfway through simmering. Transfer cutlets to platter. Sauce should be thickened to consistency of heavy cream; if not, simmer 1 minute longer. Off heat, whisk in butter. Stir in capers and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve.

Muistiinpanot

Serve with buttered pasta, white rice, potatoes, or crusty bread and a simple steamed vegetable.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Chicken piccata needs little introduction, for better or for worse. A good version—chicken breasts pounded thin, lightly dusted with flour, pan-seared, and bathed in a lemon-butter pan sauce—deserves nothing but praise. We wanted an updated recipe for tender chicken and a complex, lemony sauce that could rival the best of Italian restaurants. First, we used our easy approach to butchering and cooking chicken cutlets: We cut each chicken breast in half crosswise, and then halved the thicker portion horizontally to make three similar-size pieces that required only minimal pounding to become cutlets. We salted the cutlets briefly to boost their ability to retain moisture and then lightly coated them in flour, which helped with browning. We seared the cutlets quickly on both sides and set them aside while making the sauce. We chose to include both lemon juice and lemon slices in the sauce for complexity and textural appeal. We then returned the cutlets to the pan to cook through and to wash any excess starch into the sauce, eliminating a gummy coating. A hearty amount of briny capers and a few tablespoons of butter finished the sauce, while a sprinkling of parsley added freshness.