Lighter Chicken Parmesan With Simple Tomato Sauce

Submitted by Chef mariajane

"Such a delicious chicken dish!! If you are tight on time, you can substitute 2 cups of your favorite plain tomato sauce for the simple tomato sauce. Two cups of fresh bread crumbs can be substituted for the panko (they will shrink as they toast). Because these cutlets are breaded, one cutlet per person is plenty - but try to buy the largest chicken breasts you can to ensure good size portions."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups panko breadcrumbs (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons garlic powder
• table salt & fresh ground pepper
• 3 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon water
• vegetable oil cooking spray
• 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat and sliced into cutlets
• 2 cups tomato sauce, warmed
• 3 ounces part-skimmed mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced

• SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE

• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 4 tsp)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaf, minced
• table salt & fresh ground pepper

directions

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475°F.
2. Combine the bread crumbs and oil in a 12-inch skillet and toast over medium heat, stirring often, until golden, about 20 minutes. Spread the bread crumbs in a shallow dish and cool slightly; when cool, stir in the parmesan.
3. In a second shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoons pepper together. In a third shallow dish, whisk the egg whites and water together.
4. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, place a wire rack on top and spray the rack with vegetable oil spray. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge the cutlets in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the egg whites, and finally coat with the bread crumbs. Press on the bread crumbs to make sure they adhere. Lay the chicken on the wire rack.
5. Spray the tops of the chicken with the vegetable oil spray. Bake until the meat is no longer pink in the center and feel firm when pressed with a finger, about 15 minutes.
6. Remove the chicken from the oven. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the sauce onto the center of each cutlet; top the sauce with 2 tablespoons of the mozzarella. Return the chicken to the oven and continue to bake until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and serve, passing the remaining sauce and parmesan separately.
7. FOR SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE: Pulse the tomatoes in a food processor until mostly smooth, about ten one second pulses; set aside.
8. Cook the garlic, tomato paste, oil and pepper flakes in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the tomato paste begins to brown, about 2 minutes.
9. Stir in the puréed tomatoes and cook until the sauce is thickened and measures 2 cups, about 20 minutes.
10. Off the heat, stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside until needed.

Reviews

[MegolaMC]

I've made this recipe many, many times, usually in large batches. The baked chicken cutlets (without the sauce and mozzarella cheese) freeze well. I simplified the recipe by using Italian-seasoned panko bread crumbs, and not toasting them. I use whole eggs instead of throwing away the yolks. And I use my favorite pasta sauce from a jar, instead of making the simple tomato sauce. I must say that the tomato sauce in the recipe is VERY tasty, I'm just too lazy to make it most of the time.

 

[Lori Mama]

Very figure friendly dish. I used my own tomato sauce. :)