Chicken Piccata with Garlic Basil Pasta

I have been eyeing this recipe for a while, and I finally made it last night. If there was any left, I would post a picture of it, but we cleared it all out! The flavor of the lemon made it taste so fresh and delicious! I watched an episode on the Food Network a long while ago, and Barefoot Contessa made it. I just recently went on foodnetwork.com and they had the recipe! I will definitely be making this one again!

The Garlic Basil Pasta was from a recipe exchange I go to every summer. The taste of the fresh garlic and basil is wonderful. It is very light, which is nice, going with the breaded chicken!

Chicken Piccata

2 chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 extra large egg
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
olive oil
3T unsalted butter
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 cup white wine

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pound out chicken between 2 sheets of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix flour, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper in shallow plate. Beat egg in second plate, and place breadcrumbs in third plate. Dip chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.

Heat 2 T. olive oil in large skillet over medium low heat, add chicken and cook 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place on sheet pan and bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

For the sauce, wipe out the pan with a paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 T. of the butter, then add the lemon juice, wine, and reserved lemon halves, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Boil over high heat until it reduces about half, about 2 minutes. Add remaining 2 T butter and swirl to combine. Discard lemon halves and serve chicken with sauce.



Garlic Basil Pasta
(from Cooking Light)

2 oz. uncooked angel hair pasta
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. minced garlic (I used about a tablespoon)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. chopped fresh basil

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 2 T. of pasta water. Combine pasta water and sauce ingredients, toss in pasta. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired.