Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
- 2 cups Parmesan, finely grated
- Olive oil, for pan-frying
Sauce
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Hoagie
- 4 12-inch hoagie rolls
- 6 1/2 cups whole-milk low-moisture mozzarella, sliced
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn
- 1/2 cup Parmesan, finely grated
- Fresh basil leaves, torn
Steps
Chicken
Slice each chicken breast horizontally like a book, then place between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness. Season both sides generously with kosher salt and let the chicken rest uncovered at room temperatures for at least 15 minutes
- Set up three shallow bowls: flour seasoned with a pinch salt and the black pepper, beaten eggs, and a mixture of the breadcrumbs and Parmesan. A 50-50 ratio of Parmesan and breadcrumbs gives the crust a deep nutty flavor that plain breadcrumbs cannot.
- Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour and shake off the excess. Dip in the egg, letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture on both sides.
- Place the breaded chicken on a parchment-lined tray, not a wire rack.
Lifting it off a rack can pull the breading loose. Let rest for 5 minutes before frying. - Heat olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Fry in batches, without crowding the pan, for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown.
Pull the chicken at 155-160°F internal temperature. Transfer to a wire rack and let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook gently for about 3 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and kosher salt and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. until sliahtiv thickened
Hoagie
- Once the cutlets have rested, slice them crosswise into pieces sized to fit the hoagie rolls with a little overlap so you get full edge-to-edge coverage.
- Split each hoagie roll lengthwise, leaving the back hinge intact so the roll stays in one piece.
- Preheat the broiler to hiah. Set the rolls cut-side up on a sheet pan
- Spoon sauce across the bottom half of each roll. Lay the sliced cutlet pieces on top, overlapping slightly, then spoon a little more sauce over the chicken.
- Laver the sliced low-moisture mozzarella first, then scatter the fresh mozzarella over the top. Broil for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and starting to blister.
- Pull from the broiler and immediately finish with the grated Parmesan and torn basil.
- For that full New York pizzeria hoagie-shop effect, wrap each sandwich in parchment paper, then foil, and let sit for a few minutes before eating.
- Something good happens in that wrap.