This recipe may seem daunting at first glance, but it really is dead simple. If you plan ahead and get all of your mise en place (prepared ingredients) lined up, it comes together easily. The onion soubise and the spaetzle dough can be made the night before. I used chicken thighs in this recipe because I find them to have a better texture and flavor than breasts, but you can sub in breasts if you prefer. Just make sure you pound them out thinly. The salt and sugar cure for the chicken is imperative to a great texture and it helps to keep the meat from drying out when frying.
When cooking the spaetzle, you can use a variety ofutensils to make the little funky noodles. Some use a spoon with holes, someuse a spaetzle press but most people use a colander with medium to large holes.I started with a small spaetzle press but didn’t like how small the noodleswere. I moved to a spoon with large holes and found I liked the chunkiernoodles but that’s personal preference. Push the dough through the holes usinga large spatula or a plastic bench scraper with a rounded end.
The onion soubise takes this entree into the stratosphere of luxury with its silkiness. The contrast of the tender-yet-crispy chicken and the velvet-coated noodles makes this dish worth adding to your repertoire even if you think it’s a little involved. Go for it, I believe in you!
Chicken Schnitzel with Matzoh Spaetzle
Ingredients
For the chicken schnitzel:
- 4 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 cups matzoh meal
- 1 tbs. thyme chopped, fresh
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbs. Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup olive oil for frying
For the spaetzle:
- 6 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp. pepper fresh ground
- 8 oz. matzoh meal
For the onion soubise:
- 2 white onions (about 18 oz.) medium dice
- 1 1/2 sticks butter (12 oz.)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 big sprigs thyme
- parsley finely chopped, for serving
Instructions
- Using a mallet, tenderizer or thick-bottomed saucepan, flatten out the chicken thighs to approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Mix together the salt and sugar and sprinkle liberally all over the chicken thighs (you will only need about half of the mixture).
- Place thighs on a small sheet pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24.
- While thighs are curing, mix onions, water, butter, thyme and salt in a saucepan and bring the mixture up to a slight simmer over medium heat.
- Continue simmering for 1 1/2-2 hours (until the water has almost all evaporated and the onions and butter have become silky). Remove the sprigs of thyme. Cover and place to the side.
- After the soubise is on the stove, place the matzoh meal, nutmeg and pepper into a food processor.
- Process the matzoh meal until it’s powdery. While the processor is still on, add the stock and the eggs. Process until everything is combined and the consistency of a smooth, thick paste (you may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor to get everything together).
- Pour the spaetzle dough into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit for at least one hour.
- Set up your frying station by turning your oven onto its warming setting.
- Place three shallow dishes next to each other and going from left to right, fill them with: 1 1/2 cups of matzoh meal mixed with the thyme; the egg and Dijon mustard beaten together; and the last dish will hold the last 1/2 cup of matzoh meal (plain).
- Place a pot of salted water over high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Using either a colander or a spaetzle press, push the spaetzle dough into the salted boiling water. It will only need to cook for 2-3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or a wire strainer to fish out your cooked spaetzle. Place cooked spaetzle into a bowl of ice water to cool and hold (it should take about three batches to cook).
- After all the spaetzle is cooked and cooled, drain well, place in a bowl and coat with a couple tablespoons of olive oil.
To fry the chicken thighs:
- Heat a non-stick pan up over medium heat and pour in 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Heat until the oil shimmers.
- Run the chicken from right to left: Plain matzoh first, then the egg wash and then into the herbed matzoh and place into the hot oil. Do this again with a second thigh.
- Fry on one side for about 3-4 minutes or until they are a dark golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Place the cooked chicken thighs onto a wire rack in a sheet pan and place into the over to keep warm. Repeat frying techniques with the remaining two chicken thighs.
To finish the dish:
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Once hot, add a quarter of the spaetzle to the pan and sauté until it starts to brown.
- Add 1/4 cup of the onion soubise and sauté until everything has heated through.
- Serve spaetzle on a plate with some chopped fresh parsley over it and top with the chicken schnitzel.
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