Chicken Parmesan | Chef Muneeb Abbasi.

Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan, also known as Chicken Parmigiana, is a classic Italian-American dish made with breaded chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. Here is a recipe to make it at home:

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 cups Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness and season them with salt and pepper.
3. Set up three shallow dishes for breading the chicken: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
4. Coat each chicken breast in flour, then dip it into the egg mixture, and finally coat it in the breadcrumb mixture.
5. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Remove the chicken from the oven and top each breast with tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and serve hot.

Enjoy this delicious and comforting Chicken Parmesan with a side of pasta or a salad for a complete meal

The origin of Chicken Parmesan is not entirely clear, and there are several theories about its invention. Some sources suggest that the dish is an American adaptation of Italian cuisine, while others claim that it originated in Southern Italy.

One theory is that Chicken Parmesan is based on an Italian dish called Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmesan), which features fried eggplant slices coated in tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. Some believe that the dish was adapted in America using chicken instead of eggplant to appeal to American tastes.

Another theory is that Chicken Parmesan was created in the Italian-American community in the northeastern United States, particularly in the New York and New Jersey areas. It is said to have been a popular dish in Italian-American restaurants in the 1950s and 1960s.

Despite the uncertainty about its origins, Chicken Parmesan remains a beloved and popular dish in both Italy and the United States, and it continues to be enjoyed by many around the world.

_____________Chef Muneeb Abbasi ____________