Description
Zesty chicken piccata meatballs blend Italian-American culinary traditions with tangy lemon and briny capers. Classic piccata flavors dance through tender, juicy meatballs that deliver comfort and excitement to your dinner plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground chicken
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup (30 grams) grated parmesan cheese
- ⅔ cup (75 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Seasonings and Liquids:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ stick (113 grams) butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) capers
- 2 tablespoons caper brine
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
Instructions
- Blend ground chicken with parmesan, panko, salt, garlic, and lemon zest in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring thorough integration of ingredients.
- Craft uniform spherical portions using two tablespoons of the protein mixture for each compact meatball.
- Warm a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high temperature, introducing olive oil to create a sizzling cooking surface.
- Carefully deposit meatballs into the heated pan, rotating periodically to achieve golden-brown exterior coloration, approximately six minutes total cooking time.
- Transfer perfectly seared meatballs to a temporary holding plate, maintaining their appealing visual presentation.
- Utilize the identical pan to melt butter, introducing minced garlic and allowing aromatic notes to permeate the cooking environment.
- Incorporate flour, whisking diligently to create a smooth roux, then gradually introduce chicken broth while maintaining consistent stirring motion.
- Introduce tangy capers, their briny liquid, and fresh lemon juice, permitting the sauce to gently simmer and naturally thicken over six to seven minutes.
- Reintegrate meatballs into the zesty sauce, allowing them to complete cooking and absorb surrounding flavors for an additional five to six minutes.
- Present the culinary creation atop your preferred starch accompaniment or enjoy independently, generously coating with vibrant lemony caper sauce.
Notes
- Prep ingredients beforehand for smooth cooking experience, ensuring all components are measured and ready.
- Gently mix meatball ingredients to prevent overworking the chicken, which can make them tough and dense.
- Brown meatballs carefully on medium-high heat for golden exterior and juicy interior, turning occasionally for even cooking.
- Create luxurious sauce by whisking flour and broth slowly to avoid lumps and achieve silky texture.
- Allow sauce to simmer and reduce, concentrating flavors and creating perfect coating for meatballs.
- Versatile dish pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or served alone, making it ideal for quick weeknight dinners or elegant gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 406
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 894 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 88 mg