The Crisppiest Chicken Cutlets You Can’t Mess Up

Happy monday to everyone. margaux laskey here, filling in for Melissa Clark today. Big shoes to fill! But I’m happy to be here.

I could spend 42 hours building a geode birthday cake, but please don’t ask me to fry anything. The mess, the time, the waste? No, thanks. But when my colleague Alexa Weibel He asked me to try his new recipe for classic chicken milanese (above), I couldn’t say no. Sometimes people pleasers pay off – the chicken was tender, the panko-Parmesan crust deliciously crisp. Packed with a tangle of lemony greens, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a meal. The recipe calls for halving and pounding the chicken breasts until very thin, but you can save time by buying chicken cutlets instead. They are a bit more expensive, but on a busy night the cost-benefit ratio may make it worth it.

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Chicken Milanese

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For something equally adorable but a little less practical, try Eric Kim’s. luxurious cheddar chicken breasts. They’re based on Ritz crackers and baked in the oven, which means there’s no Jackson Pollock oil splatter to clean up. And for vegetarians who need a dose of Milanese, there’s David Tanis’s tofu version.

Speaking of vegetarians: Priya Krishna calls vegetable pulao “a weekday staple in many Desi homes” because it’s tremendously flexible. Just about any fresh or frozen vegetable will do in your new one-pot recipe, which is great because the only vegetable in my house right now is a three-pound bag of “mixed greens.”

It’s June, which means wedding season is well underway. (Take that dress or suit to the cleaners.) If you’re that type A friend who volunteered to make the cake, natasha pickowicz has an extraordinary truth sensational toasted sesame and charred citrus that guests will be talking about for years to come; you can watch her make her cake here. She also has a recipe for a boyfriend cake chocolate whiskey and caramel coffee that I could dive into if given the chance. (The groom’s cake is a tradition that originated in Victorian England. It typically contained chocolate, fruit, and alcohol, and was served only to the groomsmen.)

But maybe you just want cake, and fast. this summer strawberry spoon cake Made with fresh or frozen berries, Jerrelle Guy’s is ready in about 30 minutes and delicious and gooey in all the right ways. Add a pinch of ground cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger before baking, or just leave it at that. The only mandatory accompaniment is vanilla ice cream.

A tip for less messy chops

When pounding boneless meat to a particular thinness, place it between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap before slicing. Not only is it less messy, but I find it easier to get an even thickness when the slippery meat is well contained. You can make this ahead of time, then roll or fold the sheets (meat included) and store in the fridge until ready to bread and fry.

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