Crispy Chicken with Lemon Orzo

4 people

DINNER

Ina Garten Modern Comfort (p. 111)

Ingredients

All-purpose flour - 23 cup

Canola oil - 14 cup

Orzo - 1 cup

Chicken breasts - 4

Unsalted butter - 9 tbl

Feta cheese - 4 oz

Lemons - 1

Dill - 4 sprigs

Prep

Feta cheese - dice to yield 1 cup

Lemons - zest to yield 2 tsp and juice to yield 2 tbl

Dill mince

Instructions

Make the Lemon Orzo. In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 tsp salt and the orzo. Return the water to a boil and simmer uncovered for 9 to 11 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Drain. Transfer the orzo to a bowl and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 tbl olive oil, dill, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Fold in the feta.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Combine the flour, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper in a shallow bowl. Remove the tenders on the underside of the chicken breasts and save for another use. Heat the canola oil and 4 tbl of the butter together in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted and begins to sizzle.

Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Place the chicken, skin side down, in the skillet and cook over medium heat without moving for 12 minutes. With the chicken still skin side down, place the skillet in the oven and roast for 10 minutes.

Return the skillet to the stovetop over medium heat. Turn the chicken skin side up, add the remaining 5 tbl butter and continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, until the butter is a nutty brown color and the chicken breasts are just cooked through, reading 130 to 140 degrees.

Divide the Lemon Orzo among four dishes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and slice each breast crosswise in thick slices. Arrange one breast on each plate with the orzo. Spoon a few tablespoons of the brown butter over each chicken breast, squeeze some lemon juice on top. Serve hot.