Chicken Croquettes
With DeCecco Bucatini Imported From Italy
Chicken croquettes, an Italian favorite with a twist. Similar to chicken parmesan, chicken croquettes are sauteed in olive oil, topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with DeCecco brand bucatini imported from Italy.
Our mise en place for tonight’s dish is
3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Cut Into Small Dices
2 Large Eggs
½ Cup of Italian Breadcrumbs
½ Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese for the Croquettes Mixture, and ½ Cup for the Top
½ Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Reggiano Cheese
2 Sprigs of Fresh Parsley Chopped
4 Cloves of Garlic Chopped and Minced
1 Small Yellow Onion Chopped and Minced
1 Teaspoon Each of Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Fennel Seed, and Italian Herb Seasoning
24 oz Jar of Marinara Sauce
2 Sprigs of Fresh Basil Chopped
1 lb Box of DeCecco Bucatini Pasta
Our first step is to get the croquettes ready. In a large bowl add in the two eggs and whisk them together. Add in the diced chicken and stir it into the eggs. We want each piece of the diced chicken to be coated in the eggs, so ensure that the chicken is mixed thoroughly.
Add the Italian breadcrumbs, the shredded mozzarella cheese, chopped parsley, minced garlic, and chopped onion. Ensure that the seasonings are mixed together and then add them into the bowl. Stir all of the ingredients thoroughly.
Next we’ll make the chicken croquettes into patties. Ensure that the patties are packed together tight and place them onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper. You’ll have enough to make eight to 10 patties; you can also make chicken croquette balls too; here we’re making eight patties and five balls. The patties are perfect as an entrée and the chicken croquette balls can be served as an appetizer.
Before we begin to cook the chicken croquettes, lets get our pasta water ready. In a large pot of water add in a generous amount of salt and turn the heat to high. This is a good time to get the marinara sauce ready too. Pour some olive oil into a saute pan; this will help to keep the sauce from sticking, and it adds to the flavor too. Pour the marinara sauce into the pan and turn the heat as low as it will go.
And now we’ll get to work on our chicken croquettes. Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Add some extra virgin olive oil to a large stainless-steel skillet and turn the heat to medium low. Place the chicken croquette patties into the olive oil and saute them for about three minutes, then flip them over and cook for another three minutes. Repeat the process with the remaining patties and the croquette balls.
Then place the cooked chicken croquettes and patties back onto your cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet into the oven and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the croquettes from the oven and try not to catch your parchment paper on fire like we did ! lol
Add some marinara sauce to the top of the croquettes, then add some shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. Place the sheet of chicken croquettes under the broiler for three to four minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly golden brown.
While the croquettes are baking in the oven, lets get our pasta ready. Make sure that your water is at a rolling boil. Then add in your pasta. We’re using bucatini, which is slightly larger than regular spaghetti, but you can use whatever cut of pasta that you like. Some people put oil in their water to keep the pasta from sticking, but we wouldn’t recommend adding oil into the water because we want the marinara sauce to stick to the pasta, and adding oil in the water will prevent the sauce from sticking. So just use a pasta ladle to separate the bucatini while it settles into the boiling water.
We love the DeCecco brand of pasta, and there are many reasons why. DeCecco only uses the core of durum wheat providing a very pure semolina. DeCecco kneads their dough for 20 minutes in cold spring water from the mountains in the Abruzzo region of Italy. DeCecco uses bronze die extrusion plates which ensures that the finished product is coarse on the edges which helps to keep sauce on the pasta once it is cooked. DeCecco uses a slow drying process at low temperature; this ensures superior flavor and quality of the pasta. DeCecco costs a little more, but when you want the very best pasta full of flavor that is al dente every time, DeCecco is the winning choice every time.
Drain the bucatini and add it to the pan of sauce. Gently mix the sauce into the pasta and you’re ready to serve. And now it’s time to plate our dish.
And there it is! Chicken croquettes with DeCecco brand bucatini in a savory marinara sauce. Chicken parmesan with a twist! Light the candles and pour the wine, it’s a taste of Italy in the kitchen tonight.
It was delicious!
Until next time,
Bon Appetit