Chicken Milanese with Escarole Salad

Name: Chicken Milanese with Escarole Salad
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H5M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT2H5M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: High-quality extra-virgin olive oil; 2 slices prosciutto; 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts; 1/2 cup grated pecorino; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 head escarole, washed, spun dry, cut into bite-size pieces; Pickled Red Onions, recipe follows; Kosher salt; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon water; 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs; 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano; 4 small organic chicken breast halves, butterflied, lightly pounded 1/4-inch thick; Kosher salt; Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying; 1/2 cup red wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons kosher salt; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 to 3 really good shots hot sauce, such as Tabasco; 1 red onion, sliced into very thin rings

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Level: Intermediate

Total: 2 hr 5 min (includes refrigeration and pickling time)
Active: 1 hr 5 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Intermediate

Total: 2 hr 5 min (includes refrigeration and pickling time)
Active: 1 hr 5 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Escarole Salad:

High-quality extra-virgin olive oil

2 slices prosciutto

1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts

1/2 cup grated pecorino

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 head escarole, washed, spun dry, cut into bite-size pieces

Pickled Red Onions, recipe follows

Kosher salt

Chicken Milanese:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon water

1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

4 small organic chicken breast halves, butterflied, lightly pounded 1/4-inch thick

Kosher salt

Extra-virgin olive oil, for frying

Pickled Red Onions:

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

2 to 3 really good shots hot sauce, such as Tabasco

1 red onion, sliced into very thin rings

Directions

For the escarole salad: Set a small saute pan over medium heat; coat with olive oil. Add the prosciutto, and cook until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Combine the hazelnuts, pecorino and parsley in a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. In a bowl, toss together the escarole, hazelnut mixture and some pickled red onions. Dress with some red onion pickling liquid and olive oil. Season with salt, and garnish with crispy prosciutto.
For the chicken Milanese: Set up a standard breading station in three wide, deep plates. Fill one plate with the flour, a second with the beaten eggs, and a third with the panko and Parmesan. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt. Using one hand for dry things and one hand for wet things, take each piece of chicken through the breading procedure: Dredge lightly in the flour, then in the egg wash, and then through the breadcrumbs. Lay the breaded chicken on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Pour olive oil into a large saute pan until it reaches a depth of about 1/2 inch--better a little more than a little less. Bring the oil to medium-high heat. Test by flicking flour or breadcrumbs into it; if it doesn't sizzle, WAIT! When the oil is hot, test it again by dipping the edge of a piece of chicken; the oil should sizzle gently. In batches, cook the chicken on both sides until crispy and a lovely golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. (Do not crowd the pan or the chicken will become very greasy and soggy.) When the chicken comes out of the oil, drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. If you like, keep the chicken warm in a low oven while the rest of the chicken is cooking.
Place the chicken serving plates and top with escarole salad.

Pickled Red Onions:

In a small bowl, combine the red wine vinegar with 1/2 cup cold tap water. Stir in the salt, sugar and hot sauce. Add the sliced onions, and let sit for at least 1 hour.