Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Chicken or Veal Parm Sliders -- 04/29/10

Chicken or Veal Parm Sliders

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus some for drizzling
  • 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper
  • A generous handful of sweet basil, shredded or torn
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken or ground veal
  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme for chicken or sage for veal
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons sesame seeds, a handful
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a couple of handfuls
  • A small handful of flat-leaf parsley, very finely chopped
  • 1 ball or bundle of Burata or 1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
  • A couple of generous handfuls of baby arugula
  • 8 slider rolls, such as brioche dinner rolls (softer roll) or ciabatta rolls (super crusty rolls), split

Yields: Serves 4

Preparation

In a small pot with tight fitting lid heat EVOO, a couple of turns of the pot, over medium heat, add garlic and stir 2 minutes then add tomatoes and cover pot, raise heat a bit and cook tomatoes, shaking the pot occasionally, until tomatoes burst, 8-10 minutes. Mash up sauce with wooden spoon and season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Thicken, uncovered for 2-3 minutes, then stir in basil leaves and turn off heat.

Meanwhile, season chicken with thyme, salt and pepper or veal with sage, salt and pepper. In a separate dish, combine breadcrumbs with sesame seeds and parm cheese, parsley. Form 8 small patties 3 inches wide and coat in breadcrumbs, gently pressing patties into crumbs to make them stick. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, shallow non-stick skillet or on a non-stick griddle plan over medium to medium-high heat. Cook patties to golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side.

Place a spoonful of soft burata or ricotta on bun bottom. Drizzle cheese with a touch of EVOO and season with salt and pepper. Top soft cheese with a few leaves of arugula, then the patties, then some sauce and bun tops.