Chicken Breast with Almonds

Chicken breast with almonds is a tasty dish and relatively simple to prepare. Here is the recipe for an Italian touch on the classic dish that can be adapted based on the ingredients you have available.

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts (about 400 grams)
  • 100 grams of flaked or blanched almonds
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Flour, as needed to flour the chicken
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Chicken broth or water, as needed
  • Lemon juice or white wine, to taste
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by cutting the chicken breasts into slices or cubes, according to your preference.
  2. Lightly flour the chicken pieces to improve browning.
  3. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and add the garlic clove to flavor the oil. Once golden, remove the garlic.
  4. Add the floured chicken pieces to the pan and let them brown on both sides until well cooked.
  5. Toast the almonds in a separate pan without adding oil until they become golden and fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
  6. Once the chicken is golden, adjust with salt and pepper. If desired, you can deglaze with a bit of lemon juice or a splash of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
  7. Add a bit of chicken broth or water to create a light sauce and allow to cook for a few minutes.
  8. Add the toasted almonds to the chicken and mix well to make them adhere to the meat pieces and to flavor them with the sauce created.
  9. Serve the chicken breast with almonds hot, garnishing with chopped parsley if desired.

Curiosities

Almonds are widely used in Italian cuisine, particularly in traditional Sicilian and Apulian dishes, where they often accompany meat and fish to add crunchiness and a sweet-bitter flavor that balances the preparations.