Chicken Schnitzel with Watercress, Apple, Beet & Red Walnut Salad

I love a good chicken cutlet. There are so many things you can do to dress them up! Meyer lemon adds brightness to the fresh, crispy salad atop this fried chicken cutlet.

This was another hit from Blue Apron. We really enjoyed this dish, even though I was distracted while cooking and forgot to dip the chicken in the mustard mixture before breading. Oops! I drizzled a little of the mixture over the cutlets while they were frying to try to make sure I got that flavor in the dish, but the breading was a mess. Gah!

The salad makes a nice camouflage, eh? ;). It was still tasty and a bright and colorful meal on a cold, windy day.

This was my first time working with red walnuts. They were nice, but in this dish, I’m not sure I’d be able to tell them apart from regular walnuts, so don’t go nuts (pun not intended, but not edited, because I totally made myself giggle at that one) trying to find them. Same with lemon vs. Meyer lemon.

Chicken Schnitzel with Watercress, Apple, Beet & Red Walnut Salad
Blue Apron

Makes: 2 Servings
Calories: About 700 Per Serving

2 Chicken Cutlets
1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1 Bunch Baby Red Beets
1 Bunch Watercress
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Meyer Lemon
1 Stalk Celery
3 Tablespoons Red Walnuts
1 Shallot
1 Tablespoon Sherry Vinegar
1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard

1. Cook & peel the beets:
Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the beets. Cook 23 to 25 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a knife. Drain thoroughly and set aside. When the beets are cool enough to handle, using your hands and paper towels, gently rub the skins off the beets; discard the skins. Cut each beet into wedges and set aside.

2. Prepare the ingredients:
While the beets cook, quarter the lemon and remove the seeds. Core and cut the apple into matchsticks; toss with the juice of 2 lemon wedges to prevent browning. Thinly slice the celery on an angle. Roughly chop the walnuts. Peel and mince the shallot to get 2 tablespoons of minced shallot (you may have extra shallot); place the minced shallot in a small bowl with the sherry vinegar and 1 teaspoon of the mustard. In a large bowl, combine the remaining mustard and 1/4 cup of water.

3. Toast the nuts:
While the beets continue to cook, heat a medium, dry pan (nonstick, if you have one) on medium-high until hot. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 4 minutes, or until slightly browned and fragrant. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

4. Bread & cook the chicken:
While the beets finish cooking, place the breadcrumbs on a plate. Season the cutlets with salt and pepper on both sides. Dip both sides of the seasoned cutlets into the mustard-water mixture (letting the excess drip off), then thoroughly coat in the breadcrumbs (tapping off any excess). Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining cutlet. In the same pan used to toast the walnuts, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. When the oil is hot enough that a few breadcrumbs sizzle immediately when added to the pan, add the breaded cutlets. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

5. Assemble & dress the salad:
Season the vinegar-shallot-mustard mixture with salt and pepper; slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. In a large bowl, combine the beets, watercress, apple, celery, toasted walnuts and as much of the dressing as you’d like (you may have extra dressing); toss gently to mix and season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Plate your dish:
Divide the chicken cutlets between 2 plates and top each with the salad. Garnish with the remaining lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Big Flavors Rating: 4 Stars