Parmesean Crusted Chicken with a Raw Tomato Basil Sauce

I’ve been making this dish for so many years. The first time I
made it was when my husband and I were away in the mountains after our
road-trip back from living in California for two years. We were very
young, and broke, but blissfully happy.  At the time I was working on
starting my own cooking class business and had been recipe testing for
weeks. I prepared it for him in that old mountain cottage kitchen, with
exposed wood walls and old cast iron pans, and afterwards he looked up
at me and said, ‘I want you to make this for me every single week for
the rest of our lives.’ We kissed and snuggled and drank cheap red wine
in the over sized, brown leather chair- bellies and hearts full.

We’re older now; tired, busy and active. The good news is that we drink
better wine now, the bad news is I didn’t keep my weekly meal promise.  Instead we
focused on having babies, buying a home, starting a new and different
life together… When I think back on that sweet, young, handsome boy in
a mountain lounge chair who, at the time was all I needed, wanted, and
loved, I realize how much we have been through together- How simple our
lives were then.

 

Now things are more complicated, more complex, richer and more full. We have everything we
ever talked about wanting- the kids, the happiness, the love, the home,
and even though it’s not white or picket, we even have the fence.  And
now I can make this meal for not just one eager mouth, but three.  And
after this week, it’s already become a family favorite!

 

You shoulda seen my husbands face when I told him that morning what we were
having for dinner. His eyes lit up like that sweet, young, handsome boy
who, 8 years later, is not the only one I need, want and love, but part
of a perfect foursome that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

(makes 4 large servings)

 

This chicken recipe happens to be gluten-free…carb-free actually.  The chicken is only coated and
crusted in seasoned Parmesan cheese and then topped with a raw
cherry/grape tomato-basil ‘sauce’.  The contrast of crispy and deeply
flavored chicken with the fresh tomato sauce is just heavenly and it’s
so simple to make!  So if you happen to be someone who is watching their
carbs, make this chicken with a double vegetable but if you have to
eliminate gluten, you can still make the potato cakes…keep reading to
see how I do it!

On a large plate or cookie sheet, spread out 1
cup of shredded parmesan cheese (not grated) and season with the zest
of 1 lemon, lots of freshly grated nutmeg, and freshly cracked black
pepper. Mix together with your hands to incorporate.

 

Take 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and season lightly with kosher salt
(you don’t need too much salt because the cheese is salted) before
firmly pressing one side down into the cheese mixture. Season the other
side with kosher salt (the side facing up) before flipping and pressing
down into the cheese.

 

Preheat a large skillet (nonstick is preferred) over medium-high heat and cover the bottom with a light layer of vegetable or light olive oil.
(I rarely use a lot of oil when I’m searing or sauteing something
because I don’t think it’s necessary, but in this case you really need a
layer of it to ensure that the cheese will stick and that you get a
good crust on the chicken.) You want the pan to be very hot in order to
have the cheese stick to the chicken.

 

Place the chicken, presentation-side down, carefully
into the hot oil. Position each breast where you want it to stay
because once it’s in there, you’re not touching it for awhile.

 

Cook for 7 minutes before carefully flipping- DO NOT MOVE THEM OR TOUCH THEM BEFORE 7 MINUTES. (I find a fish spatula works best for flipping these,

 

 

but be careful if you’re using a non-stick pan so you don’t scratch the surface.)

 

 

Cook for another 7 minutes on the other side. They should now be done, but check with a thermometer to be sure as I don’t know the thickness of the breasts you used.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and drain any excess oil by placing on paper towels.

 

 

The
chicken actually doesn’t soak up a ton of oil like it would if you had
coated them in breadcrumbs or flour, so you can feel better about having
to add so much oil in the beginning!!

 

Allow
to rest before serving. If you’re making these before anything else is
done, place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place in a warm oven
(170-200 degrees).

 

 

*Top with the Raw Tomato Basil Sauce…

 

 

Mix
everything together, season to taste. Stir and allow to sit at room
temperature for about 30 minutes to develop the flavor…

 

 

Here’s my tip for the easiest way to slice a bunch of cherry or grape tomatoes at the same time…