Description
This Crispy Pistachio Crusted Chicken Breast recipe offers a gourmet twist on a classic chicken dish with a crunchy, nutty coating of pistachios and breadcrumbs. Perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection, this dish combines vibrant flavors and textures, elevated by optional lemon zest and pomegranate seeds for a refreshing finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pieces boneless and skinless chicken breasts
Crust
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Binding and Cooking
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
Garnish (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking, which will give the chicken a crispy and golden crust.
- Prepare pistachio coating: Pulse the shelled pistachios in a food processor until crumbly but not powdery. Transfer to a bowl and combine with breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the crust mixture.
- Prepare chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and gently pound them to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking.
- Coat chicken: Dip each chicken breast into the beaten eggs, then thoroughly coat with the pistachio and breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Sear for crispiness: Heat olive oil or melted butter in a skillet and sear the coated chicken breasts for about 2 minutes on each side until golden and crisp on the outside.
- Bake the chicken: Transfer the seared chicken breasts to a lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is golden brown.
- Finish and serve: Remove chicken from the oven, drizzle with lemon juice or sprinkle lemon zest for brightness, and optionally garnish with pomegranate seeds to add a pop of color and sweet-tart flavor before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter texture, use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- Adjust garlic powder and black pepper to your taste preference.
- Substitute pistachios with pecans if desired for a different flavor profile.
- Ensure the chicken is pounded evenly to avoid undercooked or overcooked spots.
- Searing the chicken before baking is optional but adds extra crispiness.
- Pomegranate seeds add a beautiful garnish and a contrasting flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
