Chicken Piccata with Picholine Olives

Today, I’m sharing an update to a a recipe that’s been on the blog for quite a while (since 2014!). This updated version still calls for olives, which is not a typical Piccata ingredient, but if you ask me, olives are rarely a bad idea.

When I think of chicken piccata, I don’t think of anything too bold or fancy. It evokes mental images of chain-style Italian restaurants. But that’s not quite right, because fresh home-style chicken piccata is bright. It’s surprising what a single lemon can do, and how briny capers awaken any dish. Bring an old classic back to the table—why not? Classics are classics for a reason, and this one is ready in under 30 minutes.

Chicken Piccata with Picholine Olives

Chicken Piccata with Picholine Olives

Published April 21, 2020 by
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Serves: 4   |    Active Time: 25 minutes



Ingredients:

  • 1 pound chicken cutlets or chicken tenderloins
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, plus additional slices for garnish
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • 1/2 cup pitted picholine olives or castelvetrano olives
  • 1/4 cup minced parsley for garnish

  • Directions:

    1. Sprinkle chicken, on both sides, with salt and pepper.
    2. Put flour on a plate. Coat each piece of chicken in the flour, shaking off excess.
    3. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. When oil is glistening, place chicken in pan. Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes, undisturbed. Chicken should be white around the edges and golden on the cooked side. Add garlic to pan. Flip chicken to second side, and cook for 3 more minutes or until golden.
    4. Using a spatula or tongs, transfer chicken to a clean plate. Pour broth into pan, and reduce heat to medium-low. Squeeze lemon juice into pan. Using spatula, scrape the bottom of the pan, scraping up the brown bits for added flavor.
    5. Add chicken back to pan, and coat in sauce. Add capers and olives.
    6. Serve chicken on plates, and sprinkle with parsley.

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    Kale Salad with Sage Roasted Butternut Squash

    Sage-Butter Butternut Squash Kale Salad

    It is noon-ish here in McCall, Idaho—our stomping grounds for the week—and the thermometer on the porch has yet to reach the 40°F mark. We roasted a full chicken (maple butter chicken, to be exact), made enchilada soup (adapted this recipe), and even ate freshly baked pumpkin pie in front of the fireplace… for most of the US though, I know, it is not winter yet. This sage-butter butternut squash salad is what I was making while still at home, and will probably return to making when we get back.

    I forgot one key ingredient for the photoshoot of this recipe: parmesan cheese! It went on shortly after. Butternut squash, pecans, and parm make this salad quite hearty. Capers might seem like a curve ball ingredient, but since butternut squash, pecans, and currants are all a tad sweet, the capers add a necessary salty, brine-y pop.

    Sage-Butter Butternut Squash Kale Salad
    Kale Salad with Sage Roasted Butternut Squash

    Kale Salad with Sage Roasted Butternut Squash

    Published October 2, 2019 by
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    Serves: 2 (as a meal) or 4 (as a side)   |    Active Time: 30 minutes



    Ingredients:


    For the butternut squash:
  • 2 cups peeled, seeded, and cubed (1/2-inch cubes) butternut squash
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 10 sage leaves
  • A few cracks black pepper
  • 1-2 three-finger pinches of salt

  • For the salad:
  • 1 bunch green curly kale, chopped (optionally, remove stems)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 three-finger pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup currants
  • 1/3 cup toasted pecans
  • 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan Reggiano
  • 2-3 tablespoons capers, strained
  • Additional ground black pepper to taste

  • For the vinaigrette:
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon white balsamic
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup

  • Directions:

    1. Cook the squash: heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a 10-inch skillet. Swirl the pan to coat the bottom in butter. When butter is melted and starts to bubble, place butternut squash in pan. Cook, without stirring, for about 7 minutes. Add sage, and stir gently. Cook for 7-10 more minutes, stirring very occasionally, until butternut squash is golden on the edges and tender all the way through. Season with black pepper and salt to taste. Remove from heat.
    2. Meanwhile, prep the salad. Place chopped kale in large salad bowl and drizzle very lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Using your hands, rub the oil and salt into the kale leaves until they are tender and bright green (this makes them softer—better for eating). Divide kale among serving bowls, if using. Top with currants, toasted pecans, capers, and parmesan. Add butternut squash.
    3. Make vinaigrette: place all vinaigrette in a jar with a lid and shake to emulsify. Drizzle dressing to taste over salad.
    4. Serve salad immediately, season with black pepper to taste, and toss.

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    Fried Fish with Lemon-Butter Sauce

    Fried Fish with Lemon-Butter Sauce

    There is nothing fancy about fried fish drizzled with lemon and butter—but it can look (and taste) awfully nice topped with capers and sitting next to a fresh salad (or yeah, crispy potatoes 😋). Start with a white, flaky, mild fish like barramundi or cod. Fillets should be less than 1/2-inch think, because the cooking goes fast! This recipe can be gluten-free or -full, use which ever flour (and breadcrumbs) your prefer. Opt for breadcrumbs rather than panko; it just works better. Use plenty of oil in the pan, and let it get hot enough. Best when eaten right away! (Though if there are leftovers, try heating the fish in a toaster oven, which will keep it crispy).

    Fried Fish with Lemon-Butter Sauce

    Fried Fish with Lemon-Butter Sauce

    Published May 14, 2019 by
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    Serves: 4   |    Active Time: 30 minutes



    Ingredients:


    For the fish:
  • 4 thin white fish fillets (such as barramundi or tilapia)
  • Sprinkle of salt
  • 1/4 cup measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend (or regular AP flour)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free bread crumbs - such as Schar (or regular bread crumbs)
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

  • For the lemon-butter sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • 2-3 tablespoons capers

  • Directions:

    1. Sprinkle each fillet of fish with salt.
    2. Whisk egg in a bowl until frothy. Place flour on one plate and bread crumbs on another.
    3. Working with one fish fillet at a time, lightly coat each fillet in flour, and then dip in egg. Roll in bread crumbs, and set aside.
    4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, place fillets in oil (if oil dies not sizzle, it is not hot enough). Cook fish for 3-4 minutes on the first side, and then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Fish should be golden on the outside and opaque all the way through. Remove from heat.
    5. Place butter and garlic in a small sauce pan. Heat over medium-low. When butter is melted, remove from heat. Add lemon zest and juice, along with capers, and stir.
    6. Place fish on serving plates and spoon lemon-butter sauce over each fillet.

    Fried Fish with Lemon-Butter Sauce
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