Chicken Piccata & Pesto Polenta

Ready to make the perfect chicken piccata? How about lemon & basil pesto-infused polenta? For dinner tonight, you’ll make both, Chef! A bed of pesto polenta is crowned with golden-coated chicken, smothered in a piccata sauce – think white wine, lemon, garlic & capers. Topped with spears of asparagus & lemon zest.

Chicken Piccata & Pesto Polenta

with asparagus & fresh lemon

Hands on Time: 25 - 40 minutes

Overall Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Asparagus
  • Cake Flour
  • Capers
  • Chicken
  • Free-range Chicken Breast
  • Free-range Chicken Breasts
  • Garlic Clove
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Grated Italian-style Hard Cheese
  • Lemon
  • Lemons
  • NOMU Italian Rub
  • Pesto Princess Basil & Lemon Pesto
  • Polenta
  • White Wine

From your kitchen:

  • Oil (cooking, olive or coconut)
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Water
  • Cling Wrap
  • Sugar/Sweetener/Honey
  • Paper Towel
  • Butter
  • Milk (optional)
Photo of Chicken Piccata & Pesto Polenta
  1. A PAT ON THE BACK

    Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Cover with cling wrap. Using a mallet, empty jar, or rolling pin, flatten and tenderise by gently pounding until halved in thickness. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, ½ the grated cheese, and seasoning. Coat the flattened chicken breast in the flour mix. Press the flour into the chicken to coat evenly.

  2. FRY THE FLOURED CHICKEN

    Boil the kettle. Place a pan over medium-high heat with enough oil to cover the base. When hot, add the floured chicken and fry for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towel. Drain the excess oil from the pan.

  3. CLASSIC ITALIAN FLAVOURS

    Return the pan to medium heat with 30g of butter. When melted, add the trimmed asparagus and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender, flipping halfway. Add the grated garlic, the drained capers, and the rub. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant, shifting constantly. Pour in the wine, the juice of 2 lemon wedges, and a splash of water. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce has slightly thickened. Season (if necessary) and add a sweetener of choice (to taste). Cover to keep warm.

  4. PICATTA & POLENTA HEAVEN

    While the picatta is cooking, place a pot over high heat. Pour in 400ml of boiling water and add half a teaspoon of salt. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly until there are no lumps. Reduce to a low heat and cook for 5-8 minutes, whisking often, until the polenta is soft and the texture is thick and creamy. Turn off the heat, add a knob of butter, the remaining grated cheese and ⅔ of the pesto. Stir until melted and smooth. Add an extra splash of water or milk if necessary. Season to taste.

  5. A MEAL YOU’LL REMEMBER

    Plate up a generous helping of the creamy pesto polenta. Top with the chicken & asparagus, and drizzle over the piccata sauce. Dollop over the remaining pesto, garnish with the lemon zest (to taste), and serve with any remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy, Chef!

  • Free-range Chicken Breast - 1

  • Cake Flour - 30ml

  • Grated Italian-style Hard Cheese - 30ml

  • Asparagus - 100g

  • Garlic Clove - 1

  • Capers - 15g

  • NOMU Italian Rub - 5ml

  • White Wine - 30ml

  • Lemon - 1

  • Polenta - 75ml

  • Pesto Princess Basil & Lemon Pesto - 30ml

  1. A PAT ON THE BACK

    Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Lay the breasts side-by-side and cover with cling wrap. Using a mallet, empty jar, or rolling pin, flatten and tenderise by gently pounding until halved in thickness. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, ½ the grated cheese, and seasoning. Coat the flattened chicken breasts in the flour mix. Press the flour into the chicken to coat evenly.

  2. FRY THE FLOURED CHICKEN

    Boil the kettle. Place a pan over medium-high heat with enough oil to cover the base. When hot, add the floured chicken and fry for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towel. Drain the excess oil from the pan.

  3. CLASSIC ITALIAN FLAVOURS

    Return the pan to medium heat with 60g of butter. When melted, add the trimmed asparagus and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender, flipping halfway. Add the grated garlic, the drained capers, and the rub. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant, shifting constantly. Pour in the wine, the juice of 4 lemon wedges, and a splash of water. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce has slightly thickened. Season (if necessary) and add a sweetener of choice (to taste). Cover to keep warm.

  4. PICATTA & POLENTA HEAVEN

    While the picatta is cooking, place a pot over high heat. Pour in 800ml of boiling water and add a teaspoon of salt. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly until there are no lumps. Reduce to a low heat and cook for 5-8 minutes, whisking often, until the polenta is soft and the texture is thick and creamy. Turn off the heat, add a knob of butter, the remaining grated cheese and ⅔ of the pesto. Stir until melted and smooth. Add an extra splash of water or milk if necessary. Season to taste.

  5. A MEAL YOU’LL REMEMBER

    Plate up a generous helping of the creamy pesto polenta. Top with the chicken & asparagus, and drizzle over the piccata sauce. Dollop over the remaining pesto, garnish with the lemon zest (to taste), and serve with any remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy, Chef!

  • Free-range Chicken Breasts - 2

  • Cake Flour - 60ml

  • Grated Italian-style Hard Cheese - 60ml

  • Asparagus - 200g

  • Garlic Clove - 1

  • Capers - 30g

  • NOMU Italian Rub - 10ml

  • White Wine - 60ml

  • Lemon - 1

  • Polenta - 150ml

  • Pesto Princess Basil & Lemon Pesto - 60ml

  1. A PAT ON THE BACK

    Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Lay the breasts side-by-side and cover with cling wrap. Using a mallet, empty jar, or rolling pin, flatten and tenderise by gently pounding until halved in thickness. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, ½ the grated cheese, and seasoning. Coat the flattened chicken breasts in the flour mix. Press the flour into the chicken to coat evenly.

  2. FRY THE FLOURED CHICKEN

    Boil the kettle. Place a large pan over medium-high heat with enough oil to cover the base. When hot, add the floured chicken and fry for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towel. Drain the excess oil from the pan.

  3. CLASSIC ITALIAN FLAVOURS

    Return the pan to medium heat with 90g of butter. When melted, add the trimmed asparagus and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender, flipping halfway. Add the grated garlic, the drained capers, and the rub. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant, shifting constantly. Pour in the wine, the juice of 6 lemon wedges, and a splash of water. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce has slightly thickened. Season (if necessary) and add a sweetener of choice (to taste). Cover to keep warm.

  4. PICATTA & POLENTA HEAVEN

    While the picatta is cooking, place a pot over high heat. Pour in 1,2L of boiling water and add 1½ teaspoons of salt. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly until there are no lumps. Reduce to a low heat and cook for 8-10 minutes, whisking often, until the polenta is soft and the texture is thick and creamy. Turn off the heat, add a knob of butter, the remaining grated cheese and ⅔ of the pesto. Stir until melted and smooth. Add an extra splash of water or milk if necessary. Season to taste.

  5. A MEAL YOU’LL REMEMBER

    Plate up a generous helping of the creamy pesto polenta. Top with the chicken & asparagus, and drizzle over the piccata sauce. Dollop over the remaining pesto, garnish with the lemon zest (to taste), and serve with any remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy, Chef!

  • Free-range Chicken Breasts - 3

  • Cake Flour - 90ml

  • Grated Italian-style Hard Cheese - 90ml

  • Asparagus - 300g

  • Garlic Cloves - 2

  • Capers - 45g

  • NOMU Italian Rub - 15ml

  • White Wine - 90ml

  • Lemons - 2

  • Polenta - 225ml

  • Pesto Princess Basil & Lemon Pesto - 90ml

  1. A PAT ON THE BACK

    Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Lay the breasts side-by-side and cover with cling wrap. Using a mallet, empty jar, or rolling pin, flatten and tenderise by gently pounding until halved in thickness. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, ½ the grated cheese, and seasoning. Coat the flattened chicken breasts in the flour mix. Press the flour into the chicken to coat evenly.

  2. FRY THE FLOURED CHICKEN

    Boil the kettle. Place a large pan over medium-high heat with enough oil to cover the base. When hot, add the floured chicken and fry for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towel. Drain the excess oil from the pan.

  3. CLASSIC ITALIAN FLAVOURS

    Return the pan to medium heat with 120g of butter. When melted, add the trimmed asparagus and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender, flipping halfway. Add the grated garlic, the drained capers, and the rub. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant, shifting constantly. Pour in the wine, the juice of 8 lemon wedges, and a splash of water. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce has slightly thickened. Season (if necessary) and add a sweetener of choice (to taste). Cover to keep warm.

  4. PICATTA & POLENTA HEAVEN

    While the picatta is cooking, place a pot over high heat. Pour in 1,6L of boiling water and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly until there are no lumps. Reduce to a low heat and cook for 8-10 minutes, whisking often, until the polenta is soft and the texture is thick and creamy. Turn off the heat, add a knob of butter, the remaining grated cheese and ⅔ of the pesto. Stir until melted and smooth. Add an extra splash of water or milk if necessary. Season to taste.

  5. A MEAL YOU’LL REMEMBER

    Plate up a generous helping of the creamy pesto polenta. Top with the chicken & asparagus, and drizzle over the piccata sauce. Dollop over the remaining pesto, garnish with the lemon zest (to taste), and serve with any remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy, Chef!

  • Free-range Chicken Breasts - 4

  • Cake Flour - 125ml

  • Grated Italian-style Hard Cheese - 125ml

  • Asparagus - 400g

  • Garlic Cloves - 2

  • Capers - 60g

  • NOMU Italian Rub - 20ml

  • White Wine - 125ml

  • Lemons - 2

  • Polenta - 300ml

  • Pesto Princess Basil & Lemon Pesto - 125ml

Woolies Products in this dish

Photo of Lemongrass 15 g

Lemongrass 15 G

Photo of LemonGold® Seedless Lemons 3 pk

Lemongold® Seedless Lemons 3 Pk

Photo of Free Range Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets Avg 700 g

Free Range Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets Avg 700 G

Photo of Fresh Lemongrass 30 g

Fresh Lemongrass 30 G

Photo of Seedless LemonGold® Lemons 850 g

Seedless Lemongold® Lemons 850 G

Photo of Skinless Chicken Drumsticks & Thighs Avg 800 g

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Photo of Lemon Verbena 10 g

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Morgenster Lemon Enhanced Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500 Ml

Photo of Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets Avg 1 kg

Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets Avg 1 Kg

Photo of Mini Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets 400 g

Mini Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets 400 G

Photo of Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets Avg 700 g

Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets Avg 700 G

Photo of Bulk Lemons 1.5 kg

Bulk Lemons 1.5 Kg

Photo of Mini Asparagus 100 g

Mini Asparagus 100 G

Photo of Polenta 500 g

Polenta 500 G

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Organic Lemons 700 G

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Crushed Garlic, Ginger, Chilli & Lemongrass 70 G

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