Chicken Puttanesca Sandwich

These are some of my favorite flavors. Salty and briny with sweet tomatoes. We always have olives, capers and tomatoes on hand and often go to a pasta puttanesca for a quick dinner. The smell is intoxicating, It really is the slow simmering anchovies that give off such a gorgeous aroma…it’s pretty addictive and the trick is to allow them to melt down into the heating olive oil, that way a light salty flavor touches every single bite of the chunky tomato sauce. In fact, the story is that the word “puttanesca” means “whore” and history has said that prostitutes would make this pasta with their windows open to lure men in with its stimulating smell.

I originally made this sandwich for a contest I saw online and instead of making a traditional pasta as I always do, I created it into a sandwich form which was out of this world. The chunky tomato sauce poured over a perfectly crispy chicken cutlet and with some softly toasted ciabatta bread-this was a sandwich made in sandwich heaven.

Method:

1) In a large skillet, drizzle some olive oil and add anchovies. Use a spatula to break the fish down and saute for a few minutes. Add chopped garlic, red pepper flakes and saute for another 2 minutes until lightly brown.

2) Add chopped tomatoes and olives and allow to cook until the tomatoes break down. About 3 minutes.

3) Add tomato paste and stir to incorporate. Add capers and cook for another 2 minutes for all the flavors to blend. Add chopped parsley and remain on low heat. Taste for seasoning.

4) To make the chicken cutlet, pound the chicken breast if you haven’t already.

5) Dredge chicken breast in flour, then egg then breadcrumbs making sure everything is coated well.

6) In a separate heated skillet with olive oil, place chicken in and allow to cook until crispy and brown on one side, about 5-7 minutes. Turn over and cook other side. Reserve chicken to plate when done.

7) Slice ciabatta in half and grill to warm bread. If you have leftover garlic, rub garlic on the inside of grilled bread.

8) Assemble sandwich with chicken cutlet and topping with puttanesca sauce.

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Chicken Puttanesca Sandwich

Makes 1 large sandwich.

Author: Samantha Ferraro

Ingredients

• 1 skinless and boneless chicken breast pounded
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 2 to matoes chopped
• 2-3 Tb capers
• 1/4 cup olives chopped
• 3 anchovy filets
• 2 garlic clove chopped
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• Small bunch fresh parsley chopped
• Olive oil for drizzling
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Ciabatta bread

Instructions

• In a large skillet, drizzle some olive oil and add anchovies. Use a spatula to break the fish down and saute for a few minutes. Add chopped garlic, red pepper flakes and saute for another 2 minutes until lightly brown.
• Add chopped tomatoes and olives and allow to cook until the tomatoes break down. About 3 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and stir to incorporate. Add capers and cook for another 2 minutes for all the flavors to blend. Add chopped parsley and remain on low heat. Taste for seasoning.
• To make the chicken cutlet, pound the chicken breast if you haven't already.
• Dredge chicken breast in flour, then egg then breadcrumbs making sure everything is coated well.
• In a separate heated skillet with olive oil, place chicken in and allow to cook until crispy and brown on one side, about 5-7 minutes. Turn over and cook other side. Reserve chicken to plate when done.
• Slice ciabatta in half and grill to warm bread. If you have leftover garlic, rub garlic on the inside of grilled bread.
• Assemble sandwich with chicken cutlet and topping with puttanesca sauce.