Chicken Parmesan

Submitted by Zuleika L.

"Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis Show: Everyday Italian Episode: Quick Italian Dishes"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 57mins
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaf
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leave
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 8 (3 ounce) chicken cutlets
• 1⁄2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 16 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

• Simple Tomato Sauce (use 1 1/2 cups)

• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• sea salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 2 (32 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 4 -6 basil leaves
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
2. Stir the oil and herbs in a small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the cutlets with the herb oil. Heat a heavy large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the cutlets and cook just until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat.
3. Spoon the tomato or marinara sauce over and around the cutlets. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of mozzarella over each cutlet, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Parmesan over each. Sprinkle the butter pieces atop the cutlets. Bake until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Simple Tomato Sauce:

5. 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil.
6. 1 small onion, chopped.
7. 2 cloves garlic, chopped.
8. 1 stalk celery, chopped.
9. 1 carrot, chopped.
10. Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
11. 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes.
12. 4 to 6 basil leaves.
13. 2 dried bay leaves.
14. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional.
15. In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
16. Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
17. If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.
18. Yield: 6 cups.