Lighter Chicken Parmesan With Simple Tomato Sauce Recipes

LIGHT CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475 degrees. Combine the bread crumbs and oil in a 12-inch skillet and toast over medium heat, stirring often, until golden, about 10 minutes. Spread the bread crumbs in a shallow dish and cool slightly; when cool, stir in the Parmesan.
• In a second shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together. In a third shallow dish, whisk the egg whites and water together.
• 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 into 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.
• Spray the tops of the chicken with vegetable oil spray. Bake until the meat is no longer pink in the center and feels firm when pressed with a finger, about 15 minutes, flipping to the other side after 10 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the oven. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the sauce onto the center of each cutlet and 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.
• Quick Tomato Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and salt and heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in basil. Cover and set aside until needed.

CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH ROASTED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• For the roasted tomato sauce: Put the tomatoes and garlic in a cast-iron skillet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil until starting to char, 12 to 15 minutes depending on your broiler. Remove from the oven and keep the broiler on.
• Meanwhile, pound each chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
• Put the roasted tomatoes and garlic in a food processor with the red pepper flakes, oregano, tomato paste, basil and sugar. Season well with salt and pepper. Puree until mostly smooth. If the sauce seems too thin, put it in a saucepan on the stove to reduce and thicken for 10 minutes while you make the chicken.
• For the chicken: Pour 1 inch of canola oil into a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan with high sides. Heat to 375 degrees F.
• Set up your breading station. Put the flour in a shallow bowl and season well with salt and pepper. Put the eggs in another shallow bowl. Put the panko and Parmesan in a third shallow bowl.
• Dredge each chicken breast in the seasoned flour, dip in the beaten egg and then dredge in the breadcrumb-cheese mixture. Working with one piece at a time, fry the chicken breasts until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.
• Put both chicken breasts on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Smear each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons of the ricotta. Top each with about 1/4 cup tomato sauce, reserving the rest for serving. Cover with the mozzarella cheese.
• Broil until the cheese is starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of tomato sauce to each serving plate. Top with chicken Parmesan and garnish with fresh basil. Serve immediately.

LIGHTER CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475°F.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• FOR SIMPLE TOMATO SAUCE: Pulse the tomatoes in a food processor until mostly smooth, about ten one second pulses; set aside.
• 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.
• Stir in the puréed tomatoes and cook until the sauce is thickened and measures 2 cups, about 20 minutes.
• Off the heat, stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside until needed.

LIGHTER CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to medium. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Combine the marinara sauce and balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs, half the Parmesan, half the parsley and some salt and pepper. Put the beaten egg whites in a separate shallow dish. Coat the chicken tenders in the egg whites first, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Pour the tomato sauce over the chicken, scatter the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan evenly over top and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta. Serve with the chicken and garnish with the remaining parsley.

CHICKEN CUTLET PARMESAN WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce first.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan.
• Add onion and garlic to the saucepan and cook about 3 minutes, until soft.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, sugar, and oregano and simmer until sauce reduces by half.
• While the sauce is reducing, prepare the chicken breasts.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a plate.
• Place egg in shallow bowl.
• Dip chicken breasts in egg and then dredge in bread crumb mixture to coat.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large frying pan,
• Add coated chicken breasts.
• Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side.
• Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in an oven proof baking dish.
• Pour tomato sauce over chicken.
• Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, approximately 15 minutes.