How To Make: Chicken Parmigiana

Begin by making the tomato sauce. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil into a large, heavy-based saucepan, enough to cover the base. Heat for 30 seconds until shimmering, then add the garlic, chopped basil stalks and Calabrian chilli. Cook over low-medium heat for a minute or two until fragrant, making sure the garlic doesn’t burn. Season with a generous pinch of salt, then add the chopped tomatoes to the pan, plus some torn basil leaves.

Increase the heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook on low for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once cooked, leave to cool.

Prepare the chicken by butterflying the breasts and pounding with a steak tenderiser, between two sheets of cling film. Make the breasts as thin as possible, without breaking.

Heat a large pan half filled with a neutral frying oil, then set up a breading station by lining up a bowl of flour seasoned with salt and cracked black pepper; the beaten eggs; and the breadcrumbs.

Using a wet hand/dry hand method, dip the chicken into the seasoned flour to coat, then move to the beaten egg, then finally dip into the breadcrumbs until completely coated. Transfer the breaded chicken slices to a rack while completing the process with the remaining cutlets.

Once the oil is hot enough for deep frying (test by dropping a breadcrumb in – once it sizzles furiously the oil is ready), place the breaded chicken cutlets into the oil, in batches to avoid overflow, and fry for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden. It doesn’t matter if the oil doesn’t cover the chicken. Drain the cooked chicken on a clean rack and cook the remaining pieces in batches.

When the chicken is cooked, ladle some sauce into the base of an oven-safe pan, then top with the chicken. Spread a little sauce on top of the fried chicken cutlets, making sure some of the crispy breadcrumbs remain exposed. Then top with slices of mozzarella, also making sure some of the breading remains uncovered. Finally scatter with a generous handful of Parmigiano Reggiano, then place under a hot grill for 5 minutes or so, until the cheese has melted and browned. (If you don’t have a grill, cook in the oven, pre-heated to its hottest setting).

Serve on its own, with pasta, or scooped into submarine rolls.