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Not Chicken Francese

I like Chicken Francese but I don't like that awful thick breaded chicken that some restaurants call Chicken Francese (think catering hall). It is more breading than chicken and sometimes the chicken is so thick. So I prefer to call this lemon chicken because I don't want this delicious chicken to be associated with that awful stuff.

First pound your chicken cutlets thin. Place the chicken between plastic wrap. Sprinkle the chicken with a little water so that the chicken doesn't tear.

 

There are two other key things to making "lemon chicken." First the flour. DO NOT use regular all purpose flour - that is where that yucky thick coating comes in. You need to use Wondra. It is the best for thin coatings. Dip the chicken in beaten egg and then the Wondra (seasoned with salt and pepper). 

The second most important thing is when you saute the chicken DO NOT crowd the pan.  I only cooked 1 chicken cutlet at a time because they were so big. I know you're tempted to cook 2 at a time just for it to be quick but trust me you will get better taste if you don't crowd the pan. If the pan is crowded the pan temperature lowers and you will be steaming the chicken and absorbing more oil. Saute until lightly browned.

Don't crowd the pan!
Now in an oven safe pan add white wine and fresh lemon juice (Notice I'm not giving exact amounts here? That's because it depends on the size of your pan and the amount of chicken in the pan). Use equal parts white wine and lemon juice. I used the juice from 1 lemon and probably about 1/2 c of wine for this pan. If you want to get real crazy, you can add a tablespoon of melted butter to the mix but you really don't need it.


Before
You can get all fancy pantsy and put some sliced lemons on top (I didn't have the extra lemons to do that this time). Now bake in the oven at 350 for about 15-20 minutes.
After (doesn't look much different huh?) 
Now you have delicious "lemon chicken" without that thick awful coating and not that terrible tasting packet sauce that catering halls oh so love. And it took what a half hour total?
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