Summer Chicken Parmesan
Posted by Aggies Kitchen on July 26th, 2009. Filed under: Aggie's Kitchen Original, Chicken, Healthy Meals, Italian, Main Dishes - Chicken, Side Dish - Vegetable.
Something about this meal stuck with me…maybe it was the good company, or maybe it was just how good and fresh it tasted. I specifically remember our friend squeezing the canned whole tomatoes with his hands to make the sauce…you would think this would not be new to me…but apparently it’s taken me 8 years to actually make sauce this way on my own. Something about using whole tomatoes in your homemade tomato sauce…once those tomatoes get broken up, the smell of freshness is so overwhelmingly delicious. You’ve got to try it yourself.
We enjoyed this meal with some Summer Vegetable Gratin and of course some good Chianti…
Recipe from Aggie’s Kitchen
3-4 chicken breasts
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 large cans whole peeled tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
bunch fresh basil leaves
shredded mozzarella cheese
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 pound whole wheat pasta
Cook pasta according to directions on box.
Season both sides chicken with olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Place over hot grill over medium heat. Cook for approximately 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. You can tell chicken is cooked through when juices run clear when pricked with fork or knife. Or cut through thick portion of chicken to check. After you take chicken off grill, cover with aluminum foil and let rest, chicken will continue to cook on its own for a few more minutes.
Pour canned whole tomatoes and their juices into a large bowl. Using your hands, gently squeeze tomatoes until crushed. Continue to crush until it reaches a thin, but still chunky, consistency.
In medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes till fragrant. Carefully add crushed tomatoes to garlic and olive oil. Bring sauce to a boil, then lower to simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 20-25 minutes. Add torn pieces of fresh basil to sauce and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Serve grilled chicken and whole wheat pasta with chunky tomato sauce, sprinkled with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Last week I was contacted by a representative from Carrabba’s to tell me about special event they are hosting this next week at their restaurant. It benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association and sounds like a nice night out for a good cause. While you’re there…stay for dinner and order my favorite things on the menu…Calamari Ricardo and Chicken Bryan with a side of pasta with garlic and oil….mmmm.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill “Mix it up for MDA” Event
What: “Mix it Up for MDA” Event, a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
When: Thursday, July 30thfrom 5 p.m. to close
Cost: $15 a person
Admission includes a sampling of four food items from the new Mr. C’s Bar Menu and, for guests 21 years and older, one of three signature cocktails (Blackberry Lemonade, the Italian Lemon Drop or Blackberry Fields Martini) or another drink on the Mr. C’s list. In addition to monies raised from event admission, Carrabba’s also will donate $1 to MDA for each of the three signature drinks sold from July 30 – August 6.
Where: To find Carrabba’s locations near you, visit http://carrabbas.com/locator.aspx
July 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Yummy recipe Aggie. I wish I had a good memory like that. I cant even remember what I ate for lunch much less 8 years ago!!!LOL
July 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Yummers!!! I'm definately gonna have to give this one a try. Also, I love the summer gratin & make it often!! It's a wonderful way to use summer squash.
Tiff
July 27th, 2009 at 12:29 am
The good times always seem to be food realted especially when travelling.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:47 am
I don't eat chicken, but summer vegetable gratin with fresh pasta sauce? I'm in!
July 27th, 2009 at 12:52 am
Looks fabulous, Aggie. It is true there are some meals you never forget.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Yum. All of it! Yum.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:27 am
YUM – this looks awesome!!
July 27th, 2009 at 3:25 am
This looks delicious! I typically make a similar version of this – with grilled or broiled chicken instead of a breaded cutlet – but this is definitely a fresh twist on the sauce that I will have to try.
July 27th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Your vegetable gratin looks absolutely amazing, so does the chicken…. light and fresh.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
It all looks fabulous but with gardens spilling their bounty I'd have to give the gratin my vote for favorite. As to food and memory…
it's possible to have memories without food but impossible to have food without memories.
July 27th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Looks delicious Aggie! We were kind of along the same minds…chicken, pasta, tomato sauce! The gratin looks delish too!
July 27th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Aggie,
This is my kind of meal. I like that the chicken is grilled instead of breaded and pan-fried. And I love that summer gratin. I need to make that again…actually I will be making the whole meal. Thanks (as usual) for a great looking meal.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
This looks like a gorgeous and delicious meal. Right up my alley!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Yup,those look very unforgettable..
July 28th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Oh yummy! This looks like something I could make once a week and never get sick of it!
July 28th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Nice addition of tomato slices & chianti!
July 28th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Both those dishes look wonderful..I'll have to check out the vegetable gratin too!
July 28th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I think I might be the same way with my memory. Sometimes things just hit home for you, and just stay for a while… a long while.
Chicken parm is an instant classic, and I love how you summer-ized it
July 28th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Wow that recipe looks amazing Aggie. I'm the same way remembering food or clothes or something but I can't find my diaper bag anywhere in my little house! So silly.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Aggie – you've got a really great memory! It was a nice night for certain and I hope that we can do it again some day. The distance is a little greater now but the sauce hasn't changed in about 12 years. You are close with your recipe. I will gladly send you the details of the sauce and you can let me know if its worth the effort.
Thanks for the the memories – Joey
July 29th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Love the veggies and pasta! Great meal!
July 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Aggies this look like an unforgetable meal for sure!
July 29th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Wow Aggie, everything looks really delicious. I love how you include a pic of the wine that went along with the dish. Cheers!
July 29th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Joey…what a wonderful surprise to find your comment on here! I didn't even know you knew about my blog! I would love for you to tell me how you really make your sauce! Hope your family is doing well!
Aggie
July 29th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
The Chicken Parmesan looks absolutely delicious and I love the sides you served with it!
It's cool that you blogged about Carrabba's MDA event… I blogged about it, too!
July 31st, 2009 at 2:49 am
Yum. So fresh and light!
July 31st, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Egads, what a good memory! Looks yummy.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Aggie, I will type it up and send it via email to your boy. With all this cooking, I hope you have him eat on a treadmill
Hope we can get to the kids together at some point to start some trouble. The stories they will hear… Enjoy the summer – J
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I too remember different meals I have eaten over the years.
This looks like one fantastic dinner – I love everything about it!
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I have had meals like that too – where I remember EXACTLY what I made and who I was with! This looks delish!
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Oh that looks so tasty. The vegetables look wonderful too!
August 27th, 2009 at 4:20 am
This looks amazing, and that vegetable gratin? wow!