Nut and Seed Crispy Chicken Escalope from Eat to Your Heart’s Content

By Erin Brown
Related Categories: Cookbook Confidential

“I love this mix for my chicken escalope; I make more than I need and use what I need for however many chicken breasts I am using and save the rest in a freezer bag or an airtight container in the cupboard, where it will last for several weeks. The seeded mix adds an incredible texture to the chicken and it is definitely something you will come back to again and again. Nuts are very energy dense – most contain 50–60 per cent fat – so in the past they were incorrectly considered unhealthy. This high fat content, though, is mainly unsaturated healthy fat like oleic acid (similar to that found in olive oil) and either poly- or monounsaturated fat. In a nutshell, nuts are a great source of unsaturated fats, fibre and protein and we should all aim to consume a good mix of unprocessed nuts and seeds every week.” Sat Bains, author of Eat to Your Heart’s Content

Serves 2

2 eggs

1 teaspoon dried harissa powder

2 chicken breasts, cut in half and slightly flattened

Extra virgin olive oil spray

For the crumb coating

100g (3.oz) panko breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon toasted cumin seeds, crushed

1 tablespoon toasted coriander seeds, crushed

1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

50g (2oz) pine nuts, chopped

50g (2oz) nibbed almonds

Pinch each of flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the crumb coating ingredients in a bowl and spread some of the crumb coating over a plate (store the rest for another time). In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the harissa and some salt and pepper.

Place the chicken in the egg wash, making sure it coated all over, then shake off any excess and press the chicken into the crumb coating, making sure it is completely covered. Set aside for 30 minutes.

Preheat your air fryer to 190°C/375°F. Place the chicken breasts on a piece of foil, spray with oil, then add them to the air fryer and cook for 8 minutes. Once cooked, rest for 2 minutes and then serve.