Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 1/2 lb total
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 1/2 cups dried plain breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3/4 cup olive oil, for frying
• 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• 8 oz low-moisture mozzarella, sliced
• 1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
• 1 lb spaghetti, cooked, for serving

Before you cook

• Lay each chicken breast flat and slice it horizontally into two thin cutlets.
• Put each cutlet between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound it to an even quarter-inch thickness.
• Season both sides of every cutlet with the salt and pepper.
• Set out three shallow dishes: flour in the first, eggs beaten with the water in the second, and breadcrumbs mixed with the Parmesan and oregano in the third.

Steps

1. Dredge one cutlet in the flour and shake off the excess.
2. Dip that cutlet in the egg, let the extra run off, then press it firmly into the breadcrumb mixture on both sides.
3. Set the breaded cutlet on a rack and bread the remaining three the same way.
4. Let the breaded cutlets rest on the rack for 10 minutes so the coating sets.
5. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until a breadcrumb dropped in sizzles immediately.
6. Fry two cutlets for 3 minutes on the first side, until deep golden.
7. Turn them and fry for 2 to 3 minutes more, then move them to a clean rack.
8. Fry the remaining two cutlets the same way and set them on the rack.
9. Heat the broiler and spread 1 cup of the marinara over the bottom of a large baking dish.
10. Lay the fried cutlets in the dish in a single layer.
11. Spoon the remaining sauce over the center of each cutlet, leaving the breaded edges bare so they stay crisp.
12. Cover the sauced centers with the mozzarella slices.
13. Broil 6 inches from the element for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted, blistered, and browned in spots.
14. Scatter the basil over the top and serve over the cooked spaghetti.