Description
Succulent Lemon Caper Chicken Delight brings Mediterranean sunshine to your dinner table with zesty flavors dancing across perfectly seared chicken. Elegant yet simple, this dish promises a quick culinary escape that will leave you craving another delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) chicken cutlets or fillets, boneless, skinless, butterflied
Seasonings:
- 1 cup (120 grams) flour
- 1 ¾ teaspoons (8.75 grams) sea salt
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) freshly ground black pepper
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 10 tablespoons (141 grams) unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) lemon zest (from 1 lemon), plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) capers, drained
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (9 grams) minced garlic (from 4–6 cloves)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, optional
Instructions
- Generously coat chicken cutlets with pepper and salt, then thoroughly dust each piece with flour, carefully shaking off any loose powder.
- Melt butter and olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a golden cooking surface.
- Carefully place half the chicken pieces into the hot skillet, searing each side until a rich golden-brown crust develops and the meat is completely cooked through.
- Transfer the first batch of perfectly seared chicken to a waiting platter, then repeat the cooking process with the remaining pieces, supplementing oil and butter as needed.
- Without cleaning the skillet, sauté finely chopped shallots until they become translucent and soft, releasing their delicate aromatics.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, stirring quickly to prevent burning and allow the fragrant notes to bloom.
- Pour chicken stock into the skillet, allowing the liquid to simmer and reduce by half, concentrating the savory flavors.
- Reduce heat and gently whisk in remaining butter, briny capers, vibrant lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice, creating a luxurious, tangy sauce.
- Elegantly drizzle the aromatic sauce over the waiting chicken cutlets, ensuring even coverage.
- Optional: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the dish for a bright, herbaceous garnish before serving.
Notes
- Quick dredging technique ensures a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in chicken’s moisture and flavor.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution and perfect caramelization of chicken cutlets.
- Creating the pan sauce in the same skillet captures all the delicious browned bits for maximum flavor depth.
- Fresh lemon zest and juice brighten the rich butter sauce, balancing the salty capers with a tangy kick.
- Sautéing shallots and garlic before adding liquid develops a complex, aromatic base for the sauce.
- Resting cooked chicken before drizzling sauce helps maintain the crispy coating and prevents sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 873 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg