Nut-Crusted Chicken Breasts

Adapted from Cook's Illustrated. Almonds work best, but any nut will do. If your chicken breasts have the tenderloin attached, remove it.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2 (6 -8 ounce)  boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped  almonds
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in 1-tbsp pieces
• 1  small shallot, minced (about 1 1/2 tbsp)
• 1⁄2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1⁄2 lemon, zest of, finely grated
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  minced fresh thyme
• 1  pinch cayenne
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 lemon, cut in 2 wedges (use the one you zested)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Poke each breast several times with a fork. Sprinkle each breast with 1/2 tsp kosher salt, coating both sides. Refrigerate, uncovered, 15-20 minutes.
2. Process nuts in food processor, about 20 1-second pulses, until it looks like coarse meal. Heat butter in skillet over medium flame until melted. Swirl constantly until butter is brown and smells nutty, 4-5 minutes. Add shallot and 1/4 tsp kosher salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until shallot is soft, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add nuts and panko and stir often until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a shallow dish and stir in lemon zest, thyme and cayenne.
3. Beat egg, mustard and black pepper in a second bowl; place flour in a third dish. Pat breasts dry. Dip breasts, one at a time, into flour, patting off excess, then into egg, then into nut mixture. Scoop nut mixture on top of the chicken and press it down hard to make it adhere. Place breast on a rack placed over a cookie sheet, then prepare the second one.
4. Place rack in lower-middle of preheated oven and bake until internal temperature of chicken is 160F, 20-25 minutes. Rest 5 minutes, then serve with lemon wedges.