Chicken or Veal Parmigiana

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A hard grating cheese is a must when it comes to the breading mixture, but Parmesan isn't the only option -- we like a salty, robust Pecorino Romano.

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  • 4

Ingredients

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Preparation

Step 1

*BREADING AND FRYING*
*2* cups fine plain fresh breadcrumbs
*1/2* cup (1oz.) grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
*1* cup all-purpose flour
*4* large eggs, lightly beaten
*1* LB. chicken or veal cutlets pounded to an 1/8-inch thickness
*1/4* cup vegetable oil, plus more if needed



*MARINARA SAUCE*
Makes 6 cups

*3* tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
*1* medium onion, chopped
*4* garlic cloves, thinly sliced
*2* cans (28 oz. each) peeled whole tomatoes, pureed in a food processor
*1/2* teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
*1/4* cup fresh basil, leaves torn
*1* tablespoon chopped fresh oregano


Directions:
Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and some pepper. Simmer, covered, until thick, 25 minutes. Stir in herbs.

*Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months* ~~*~~





ASSEMBLING PARMIGIANA
Marinara Sauce
*1 1/4* cups (5 oz.) grated mozzarella cheese
*1/4* cup (1/2 oz.) grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese


Directions:
Bread and fry the cutlets: Combine breadcrumbs, pecorino Romano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and some pepper. Put flour, eggs, and breadcrumb mixture in 3 separate dishes.

Dredge cutlets in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Dredge in breadcrumbs to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes.

Heat oil in large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. (Oil is ready when a breadcrumb sizzles when dropped in.) Working in batches, fry cutlets until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. (If oil gets too dirty, discard, and heat an additional 1/4 cup.)


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Assemble the dish:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spread 3/4 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of cutlets on top. Top with 1 cup sauce, covering each piece. Sprinkle with mozzarella and pecorino Romano. Cover with foil.

Bake until bubbling, about 10 minutes. Uncover; bake until cheese melts, about 2 minutes more.

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