Did you know Ben’s a really good cook?
Like, an excellent one, actually?
Homeboy makes a mean Beef Lo Mein, can glaze a pork loin with the best of ‘em, and don’t even get me started on his hotwurst assembly skillz.
He even cooked for me on one of our first dates! SWOON. 
Chicken Piccata.
Though he’ll tell you it was Chicken Saltimbocca.
Either way, I’ll never forget how he nervously prepared the salty, lemony chicken dish, laced with butter and capers for me in his parent’s kitchen.
It was the summer before our senior year in college, and we’d only been dating a few weeks. Hearts were pounding and palms were most definitely sweating.
I remember hearing the sizzle of the chicken from my perch at the kitchen table, as he placed it into a hot skillet on the stove.
The butter and oil he’d pre-heated started to pop and splatter, and I remember thinking to myself, Am I going to have to jump in here and rescue this poor man?!
Alas, he had it all under control.
I may have been blinded by love, but my tastebuds weren’t.
The chicken piccata ( ) came out perfect.
Tonight, in honor of my sweet hubby, I combined both of the dishes we remember in our own minds to form an Italian chicken masterpiece for dinner.
I harnessed the power of prosciutto, commonly used in a traditional Chicken Saltimbocca recipe, and combined it with a buttery lemon-caper sauce, that’s customary in Chicken Piccata, to form…
Lick Your Plate Chicken Prosciutto Piccata.
Chicken Prosciutto Piccata
Serves 2
Adapted from Simply Recipes
Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, butterflied into two pieces
2 slices prosciutto
2 1/2 Tablespoons flour
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth (I used Pinot Grigio)
1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 Tablespoons capers, rinsed in water
chopped parsley
Directions:
- Mix the flour, grated Parmesan and salt & pepper together in a shallow dish. Press one slice of prosciutto onto each chicken half, then dredge the chicken in the flour/cheese mixture.
- Heat olive oil and 1 Tablespoon of the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken, prosciutto-side down, and cook on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Add remaining butter, wine/chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and capers to the skillet. Use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits and continue to cook the sauce until it has reduced by half. Pour sauce over the chicken and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with angel hair pasta, or sautéed spinach.
I legit licked my plate to sop up every last droplet of this sauce. It was INSANE.
The prosciutto that’s wrapped around the chicken before being dredged in seasoned flour then pan-fried, adheres to the chicken as it cooks and gets super crispy – like bacon.
The sauce that drizzled down over it, permeating sautéed spinach seasoned with salt & pepper, is mind blowing. I could spoon drink it. Maybe I did…
The best part is that the whole dish came together in 15 minutes. I got done and could hardly believe it. If there’s ever a chicken dish to try – this is it, folks!
In other news, I am just as excited about dessert as I am dinner. Tonight I’m making Apple Toffee Blondies for a co-worker’s last day tomorrow!
With an extra half batch for Ben and me, natch.
Have a great night!
~~~~~
“My idea of the perfect date is ___________.”
My idea of the perfect date is either staying in and ordering food then watching movies all night, or going to a movie, then dinner, then evening cocktails before coming home!
This sounds like a killer meal to make a girl swoon- either one (picatta OR saltimboca!)
Campfires on the coast of Lake Michigan are my favorite!
Your cooking skills are amazing……………….I want to create all of them!
my idea of a perfect date is one that actually shows up! i recently have had a string of bad luck (or maybe it was actually good luck? ha!) with men either calling at the last minute w/a lame ass excuse, or simply not showing up at all. Losers….so it’s just as well!
I love it when my hubby cooks! It’s such a nice break! And..I’m with you on the perfect date night. With two little girls we hardly get out – so home movies and wine work great for us!!
This looks yummy
I’m a take out and movies date kind of girl myself. Actually I like anything that is quiet, since I’m profoundly deaf in both ears the less I have to strain to hear over background noise the better. Another one of my favorite “dates” is just cooking or baking something together in PJ’s and then enjoying while watching TV. I’m a simple girl!
My favorite date is def. the order takeout/watch movie at home variety. Although, and this will sound REALLY dorky, my favorite “going out” date is going to Cool Basil for dinner and then Borders (although now it will be Barnes and Noble) to peruse books and share a mocha. Luckily my husband agrees with both of these things!
That looks delicious! I will try that one next time we have extended family over for dinner. I love the pictures but the OCD in me perked right up when I saw the handle of the large pan hanging over the edge of the stove! *shudder* When you have babies (hint hint) you’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen! Ok, I’m done.
The idea of a perfect date is dinner/drinks with my hubby of 14 years!
Oh 2 buck chuck… LOVE.
My idea of a perfect date is a walk outdoors around DC, dinner (burgers or pizza at one of our favorite restaurants) and frozen yogurt.
Any tips for a newly engaged woman? Anything you’d recommend in wedding planning?
2 BUCK CHUCK!!!!!! AMEN Although for me I sing $3.99 wine and dine
That chicken dish is sooo good.
A perfect date for me is anything that consists of eating really good food, drinking really good drinks and having great conversation.
Girl… I have a soft spot for Chicken Piccata. Yum Yum!
I have made my own: http://blackbirdideas.com/2011/03/31/a-healthier-chicken-piccata/
And there is nothing like a man cooking for ya: http://blackbirdideas.com/2011/09/19/he-can-cook/
You go Ben (and IGE)!
All your meals aways look delicious!!! I wish I had your cooking skills.
How do you manage to come home, exercise, make amazing meals and blog about it all before 8pm?!?!?! I am impressed.
My boyfriend cooked on our first date, and now cooking together is a major part of our life. It is definitely wonderful having two cooks in the house!
Perfect date would be….he makes me dinner and then cozy snuggly movie night on the couch.
I think this chicken should be that dinner!
Yum that chicken and dessert!
yum! love prosciutto.
my idea of the perfect date is a nice dinner, bottle of wine, and a movie on the couch in sweat pants.
yummy! That’s the kind of dish my boyfriend makes – he’s a really good cook also
I’m with Ben on the confusion of Saltimbocca and Piccata. Several years ago, I have THE best chicken I had ever eaten at Buca di Beppo. It was Saltimbocca, and for years, I have been trying to find it either in a restaurant or a recipe, and every time I ordered it, it was nothing like I remember. In the past few years, as I’ve learned more about cooking/recipes, I realize what they served us and called Saltimbocca, was in actuality, Piccata. Either way, it looks delish!
I love date nights at home! Either cooking a meal together or getting take out and cuddling up to watch a movie
What a sweet little story.
That chicken sounds like a must-try!
You had me at “bacon.” I’m makin’ it. And you know *I* will.
A fabulous date night (for me) should consist of dining out (I cook for a family of 6 every day!!) at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town, Alexandria, where you simply cannot get a bad meal. A great bottle of a sharp, dry white wine, and then go home and veg in front of a great movie!!
What a delicious looking dinner! I don’t like bacon so I would probably make this without. Either way, it looks excellent. I think it’s so cute that Ben cooked for you on one of your first dates. That is romantic
A perfect date night for me is going out to a great restaurant with my fiance, having some wine and then coming home and watching a movie together
I love a man that can cook!
My perfect date would probably be going out to dinner and coming home to watch movies together. I love getting dressed up to go out to a nice restaurant… although my boyfriend and I always cook together and I love it!
That’s so sweet! I still remember the first time my boyfriend cooked for me too, and wouldn’t you know it was also chicken!
He didn’t let me step a foot in the kitchen because it was a “surprise”. He brought me wine and snacks while it was cooking and the dinner turned out amazing. He made a fresh salad with a lemon dressing to start, grilled pineapple chicken, and a cheesy garlic buttered roll. Yum! He’s still the best cook in the household, but I’m trying!
Awe, I love how you weave in personal stories into your cooking! Keeps the best-of-times alive!
I think the perfect date would involve a nice dinner out, drinks and a walk along a picturesque path!
My hubby cooked for me on one of our first dates too! Ours was steaks, green beans and baked potatoes. Not as fancy, but still delish!
My perfect date would be dinner at a restaurant with a nice view! Then coming home and watching movies while eating icecream!
My husband thinks Chicken Piccata is not filling enough, so I can’t wait to give this a try! My idea of a perfect date is out to dinner followed by frozen yogurt. Or just a lot of frozen yogurt…
You two are so cute!
Perfect date night is grabbing doner kabobs and heading to a park to chow down while people watching. <3
You two are just too cute!
I too would swoon for a man that cooks for me. However, my boyfriend is not only the pickiest eater in the world but he’s also so afraid of the kitchen that he would prefer to alert the fire marshall before cooking a frozen pizza. But it’s still cute when he proudly tells me that he’s got a pizza waiting for me. At least he tries!:)
Totally agree on your idea of a perfect date. I’m an easy going, no fuss type of girl and love simplicity!
perfect date=nice dinner and good conversation followed by a movie at home, snuggled on the couch with the fireplace on (weather permitting)! or just game night
Is that the first post of Ben without him wearing a Jersey?
Not all of us are fortunate enough to eat at the Country Club every night Jeff. No dress code at our house.
And yes Grosse I know this was you.
Mmm that looks delicious!
I love Italian food, it’s definitely one of the best cuisines
Cooking dinner with my boyfriend followed up by snuggling together on the couch chatting and watching tv or a movie is one of my absolute favourite ways to spend an evening!
Oh my sweet chicken! This looks so dang good, I can’t stop staring at it!
I really need to find a Ben for me in the future, hah! I love to cook, but a man who cooks? Now that’s a find!
I actually like to have date nights “in” , and prefer to go out with groups of friends! I love cooking together and curling up for a movie on the couch. Gosh, I sound far too old for my age hah
awww…such a cute story!
My man is an awesome cook too! I just wish he had more time to cook for me.
I love love love chicken piccata! It’s like I was a caper in another life kinda love.
Pinning this one
[...] Dinner in a Long. Time. Lick Your Plate Chicken Piccata [Iowa Girl Eats] [...]
[...] piccata er en skøn ret og denne udgave er bestemt ingen undtagelse. Den er fundet hos Iowa Girl Eats, som er en af mine utallige [...]