Mardi Gras still holds the top spot in my book, but these buttery garlic parmesan wings are insanely good.

There’s no spice, just lots of punchy garlic flavor mellowed by the buttery parmesan parsley toss sauce.

Garlic Parmesan Wings are super simple to make with just a few basic ingredients.

The Method

The wings are tossed with garlic powder, salt and pepper then placed on a rack lined baking sheet and into a 400 degree F. oven for an hour.

Ten minutes before wings are done baking prepare the sauce.

Melt butter in a small saucepan, remove from the heat and stir in lots of chopped garlic.

Allow to cool slightly, then just before you’re ready to use stir in parmesan and parsley.

Place crispy wings in a bowl, pour sauce over top and toss to coat.

Crispy Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings will melt in your mouth and leave you licking the buttery garlic sauce off your fingers.

Promise!

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings will melt in your mouth and leave you licking the buttery garlic sauce off your fingers. Promise!

Course Entree or Appetizer

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Rub

• 2 pounds chicken wings flats & drummettes separated
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

For the Sauce

• 4 ounces butter
• 4 cloves fresh garlic minced
• 2 ounces parmesan cheese finely grated
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves chopped

Instructions

For the Rub

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place a rack onto pan.
• Combine the garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a zipper top bag. Add wings and shake to coat. Place wings on rack of prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

For the Sauce

• Ten minutes before wings are done prepare the sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in garlic. Allow to cool slightly. Just before ready to use, stir in parmesan and parsley. Place crispy wings in a bowl. Pour sauce over top and toss to coat. Best served immediately.

The post Crispy Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

They are bright and green and filled with fresh herbs.

A crispy exterior with a tender moist center makes them irresistible and comfortable and oh so delicious.

These chickpea and herb fritters are a staple dish in many parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

I found this interesting article from History Today on the origin of Falafel.

Clearly there is much debate on which country first took claim to this dish, and it’s no wonder.

It all begins with dried chickpeas aka garbanzo beans, which need to soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. The beans are only soaked, not cooked, therefore you can’t substitute canned chickpeas. I repeat, please don’t attempt this recipe with canned chickpeas.

We are fortunate to have a sweet lunch-date spot mere minutes from our house. Jerusalem Chef is a family owned restaurant that makes authentic dishes like Jerusalem Salad, Shawarma, Kofta Kababs, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush and the most beautiful emerald green Falafel. Which are the inspiration for this post.

If you love falafel like me, you’ve likely had the really good falafel and then the kind-of-dry, not-so-tender, under seasoned variety. Clearly I aspire to share a really good falafel recipe with you, similar to the ones served at Jerusalem Chef.

So I googled “bright green falafel recipe”, clicked on Images, and found this gorgeous recipe from one of my favorite sites The View from Great Island. It’s straight forward, herb loaded, flavor packed and the finished result turned out just like the picture. Winning!

Basically your food processor does 50% of the work and you’re responsible for the rolling and frying. And 100% of the eating, although you’ll want to share the love with this one ~ your friends and family will thank you. All of the ingredients go into the food processor and you pulse until you have the consistency of coarse wet sand. You want the mixture to hold together when you squeeze it with your hand. I used a small ice cream/cookie dough scoop then gently formed them into balls with my hands. I wanted to serve the Falafel warm for dinner so I refrigerated them for a few hours before frying. You can easily make the mixture ahead and refrigerate for up to two days.

We incorporated the Falafel with Lemon Tahini Sauce as part of a gorgeous Middle Eastern Mezze Platter. We grazed our way around the board, such a fun and satisfying way to enjoy the flavors of this region.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Falafel {with Lemon Tahini Sauce}

These chickpea and herb fritters are a staple dish in many parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. They are packed with fresh herbs and their texture is superb.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Middle Eastern

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Overnight Soak 8 hours hours

Servings 6

Author Sue with The View from Great Island

Ingredients

For the Falafel

• 3 cups soaked chickpeas not cooked
• 1/2 medium red onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 small jalapeno
• 1 packed cup fresh parsley leaves stems discarded
• 1 packed cup fresh cilantro leaves stems discarded
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon coriander
• 1 Tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 Tablespoons chickpea flour (or all-purpose)

For the Lemon Tahini Sauce

• 1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• water to thin to desired consistency
• salt to taste
• ground cumin to taste

Instructions

For the Falafel

• Soak the dried chickpeas overnight or for at least 8 hours. DO NOT COOK THEM.
• Measure out 3 cups of soaked chickpeas and place in food processor with remaining Falafel ingredients. Run processor until you have a wet corse sand like consistency, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times during the process. The mixture should hold together when squeezed in your hand.
• Use a ice cream scoop or spoon to portion out the falafel mixture. Use your hands to gently shape into balls. Refrigerate until ready to fry, up to two days.
• Preheat vegetable oil to 350° F. Gently fry falafel in small batches and drain on paper towels. Serve warm with Tahini Sauce.

For the Lemon Tahini Sauce

• Whisk together the tahini and lemon juice, adding water to thin it to desired consistency. Season with salt and cumin to taste.

The post Falafel {with Lemon Tahini Sauce} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

This chopped salad is packed with simple, healthy ingredients that are readily available year-round.

I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but after March Meatball Madness I’ve silently, out of sheer desperation, declared April as salad month (not to outdo National Grilled Cheese Month).

Local Ingredients

I’ve come to learn a bit about locally sourced regional ingredients and how they influence dishes.

Nothing earth shattering, just a simple appreciation of the commonalities.

I’ve made six seven middle eastern dishes this week and have gone through 9 lemons, 2 heads of garlic, 3 bunches of fresh parsley, 2 bunches of fresh cilantro, and I’ve harvested almost all of my mammoth mint plant….oh and a gallon of olive oil.

Ok maybe not a gallon but enough to bathe a small child in.

Each dish I’ve prepared had it’s own flavor profile, yet the one element that was the same throughout was fresh herbs.

You know how I feel about fresh herbs and how they can elevate a dish.

For most of my life I underestimated fresh parsley. It just couldn’t keep up with it’s sexy cousins sage, rosemary and thyme. I viewed parsley as an obligatory garnish not worthy of consuming.

Boy was I wrong.

It actually adds flavor, is packed with nutrients and vitamins, is rich in antioxidants, and is a natural breath freshener.

Oh and it’s not a bad garnish either with it’s bright emerald coloring. Here’s an article you might enjoy that I wrote about Fresh Herbs and how to incorporate them into your cooking.

Back to Jerusalem Salad, also know as Israeli Salad, there’s a reason it’s the most well-known Eastern Mediterranean dish.

It’s wonderful served as a side dish, but you can load it into pita bread and top it with fresh made falafel. I’m hungry just thinking about it.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Jerusalem Salad

This chopped salad is packed with simple, healthy ingredients that are readily available year-round. It's wonderful served as a side dish, but you can load it into pita bread and top it with fresh made falafel.

Course Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 persian cucumbers fine diced
• 2 roma tomato fine diced
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1/3 cup red onion fine diced
• 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced about 3 tablespoons
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Fine dice cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and parsley. Toss with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

The post Jerusalem Salad appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I wanted to make a gluten free version of Tabbouleh so included Quinoa! It’s perfect!

There’s something about Spring that makes me crave bright green flavors!

Which generally means I’m incorporating as many fresh herbs as possible.

Tomorrow I am making Falafel which I’m going to serve on a great big board with lots of tiny bowls of other levantine favorites like hummus, Jerusalem salad, baba ghanoush, marinated olives and feta, and this gorgeous Quinoa Tabbouleh.

Tabbouleh (also known as tabouleh and tabouli) is a Lebanese salad classically made with bulgar, seasoned with lemon juice, fresh parsley and mint, with fine diced tomato and onion.

As with many classic dishes the variations are many.

My Tabouleh & Couscous Salad pictured above is so flavorful and delicious, it makes a wonderful side dish.

The Ingredients

This time around I wanted more bright green herb flavor in my tabbouleh so I incorporated loads of fresh parsley, cilantro and mint, as well as green onion and cucumber.

Making it Gluten Free

Simply swapping cooked quinoa for bulgar or couscous kept the same flavor profile but makes this Quinoa Tabbouleh gluten free.

For best results when cooking quinoa you should always rinse with water until the water runs clear.

I then lightly toast the rinsed quinoa in a dry skillet before boiling.

The result is tender quinoa that’s perfect in any number of dishes from Mushroom, Sausage & Sage Quinoa Stuffing to Quinoa & Raw Veggie Salad to Blueberry & Mango Quinoa Salad.

Why You’ll Love It

This Quinoa Tabbouleh is everything I hoped it would be.

It’s super healthy and a good source of protein, fiber and vitamin C. The layers of flavor are bright with fresh herbs, lemon, tomato and cucumber. And it’s beautiful and fresh and an absolute must-include with our Levantine Mezze.

I can hardly wait to graze my way through these incredible middle eastern flavors.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Quinoa Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh (also known as tabouleh and tabouli) is a Lebanese salad classically made with bulgar, seasoned with lemon juice, fresh parsley and mint, with fine diced tomato and onion. This gluten free version replaces bulgar with quinoa.

Course Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups fresh parsley stems discarded
• 1 cup fresh mint stems discarded
• 1 cup fresh cilantro (or parsley) stems discarded
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 green onion thinly sliced
• 1 plum tomato fine diced
• 1 persian cucumber fine diced
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add rinsed quinoa and stirring frequently lightly toast, 4-5 minutes. Add toasted quinoa to 1 cup water in saucepan. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 10-12 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with fork. Allow to cool.
• In the bowl of a food processor, add fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. Finely chop mixture. In a bowl, stir chopped herb mixture with thinly sliced green onion, diced tomato and cucumber and 1 cup cooked quinoa. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

The post Quinoa Tabbouleh Gluten Free appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Through all of this March Meatball Madness I have received several requests through social media (some subtle, some not) to share more vegetarian options.

This veggie-loving lady is happy to oblige!

I have shared before how fortunate we are to have two outstanding (and gigantic) year-round indoor Farmers Markets less than 30 minutes away ~ Buford Highway and Dekalb.

Both carry a wonderful selection of produce, so many varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs that I find myself googling how to incorporate them into recipes.

The Process

For this Eggplant Meatball recipe I oven roasted one pound of eggplant cubes at 450 degrees F. for 25 minutes.

Then I pulsed them in the food processor a few times before incorporating them into the remaining ingredients.

For added flavor I used both fresh parsley and fresh basil along with garlic and parmesan cheese.

Then egg and Panko breadcrumbs to bind the mixture.

You should be able to get a dozen nice sized meatballs.

Eggplant Meatballs have a wonderful texture that is both ‘meaty’ and moist with fresh herbs smiling throughout.

We enjoyed them over pasta with tomato sauce and even had enough to share the love with our favorite over-the-fence neighbor Ms. Pat :)

Who in kind, returned the love by sending us two delightful Negroni cocktails.

No doubt the past twelve months have been difficult and for some heart breaking and tragic.

Cooking is my love language and being able to share that love, even if there’s a fence between us, fills my heart.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Eggplant Meatballs

Eggplant Meatballs have a wonderful texture that is both 'meaty' and moist with fresh herbs smiling throughout. Delicious served over pasta with tomato sauce or as an appetizer with a side of marinara.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound eggplant cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1/4 cup fresh herbs (parsley and basil) finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

• 1/2 pound favorite pasta prepared according to package instructions
• 1 cup favorite tomato sauce
• parmesan cheese
• fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat the oven to 450° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss eggplant cubes in olive oil and spread in single layer onto baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn over cubes and bake an additional 10 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring to bowl of a food processor; pulse 2-3 times.
• Reduce oven to 400° F. In a bowl, combine eggplant with remaining meatball ingredients. Form into 12 meatballs and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

To Serve

• Serve meatballs over favorite pasta with tomato sauce and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil. Also wonderful as an appetizer with a side of tomato sauce.

The post Eggplant Meatballs appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

With the way I love meatballs, this food holiday is deserving of a celebration.

A Meatball Palooza if you will.

I have so many meatball recipes to share (and several I’ve yet to create) that we’ll need days to properly honor those perfectly packaged bundles of love.

I shall call this celebration March Meatball Madness and share a meatball recipe every day for the remainder of the month.

We shall begin with Chicken Marsala Meatballs.

Let me just put it to you straight.

If you love Classic Chicken Marsala you’re going to love those flavors rolled into tender savory meatballs.

I mean luuuuv them!!

In order to keep the meatballs soft and tender, I combine all the ingredients except the chicken first, then gently fold that mixture into the ground chicken.

Overworking the meatballs can make them tough.

Baking ground chicken meatballs is my preferred method. When the mixture is quite soft and these meatballs are large (2″ diameter) they do better in the oven. I baked them at 400 degree F. for 15 minutes to firm them up a bit before pan browning them in butter and sage.

Earlier today when I passed a Chicken Marsala Meatball over the fence to Ms. Pat {share the love}, she gave me a lovely complement on my mushrooms.

She said, “I don’t know how you do it but your mushrooms are always incredible.”

The truth is I work a little harder for just that reason.

If you take the time to pan brown your mushrooms in a single layer (remember Julia Child’s advice “never crowd the mushrooms”) they will caramelize and take on the most incredible texture.

No mushy mushrooms here.

You will brown the mushrooms on both sides then remove them from the pan. You’ll add them back near the end of preparation.

I apply this method to most every recipe that incorporates mushrooms.

For the Marsala Pan Sauce, I add butter, shallot, and garlic to the pan and sauté until the shallot is soft.

The Marsala wine is added, then allowed to cook down until reduced by at least half.

Marsala wine comes in a variety of finishes. They range from sweet to dry and are not created equally.

During a trip to Sicily we were able to visit the wonderful coastal town of Marsala and sample several varieties, ranging from very sweet to a wonderful dry marsala that’s perfect for making Chicken Marsala.

Below are a few pictures from our visit to Marsala.

Once the Marsala is incorporated, good rich chicken stock is added with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Once that comes to a simmer I dust it with a little arrowroot (for gluten free version) or flour to thicken it just a bit.

Then the mushrooms are returned to the pan along with a little cream and the browned meatballs.

Let the meatballs gently simmer in the sauce for 5 minutes or so before serving.

I chose to serve these meatballs over spaghetti but they would be fabulous over egg noodles or cauliflower rice.

Every tender bite is bursting with hints of marsala and buttery sage. I am so in love with these Chicken Marsala Meatballs. I can’t wait for you to try them and let me know what you think!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best, Libby

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Chicken Marsala Meatballs

Every tender bite is bursting with hints of marsala and buttery sage.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (or GF Panko)
• 1/3 cup pecorino romano cheese grated
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tablespoons cream
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley fine chopped
• 1 Tablespoon dry Marsala wine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic & herb seasoning recipe on blog

For the Marsala Pan Sauce

• 4 Tablespoons butter divided
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 16 ounces fresh button mushrooms sliced
• 1 bunch of fresh sage 8-10 leaves
• 1 shallot fine diced, about 1/4 cup
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 3/4 cup marsala wine
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 Tablespoons flour or arrowroot (for gluten free)
• 2 Tablespoons cream
• salt & pepper to taste

For Serving

• 1 pound spaghetti prepared al dente
• fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl combine breadcrumbs, Romano cheese, egg, cream, parsley, marsala wine, salt, pepper, garlic & herb seasoning. Fold mixture into ground chicken until just combined. Form into 12 meatballs, about 2 inches in diameter, place onto parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

For the Marsala Pan Sauce

• While meatballs are baking, pan brown mushrooms in batches using large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 Tbl. butter & 1 Tbl. olive oil, adding additional butter/olive oil with each batch. Once deep golden brown, remove mushrooms from pan and reserve. In same skillet over medium heat, melt 2 Tbl. butter with fresh sage leaves. Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Remove sage leaves and reserve as edible garnish.
• Remove meatballs from oven and add to skillet with sage butter; cook until nicely browned on all sides. Remove from pan and reserve.
• Add shallot and garlic to pan and saute over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until shallot is tender. Return the mushrooms to pan, add marsala wine and simmer until reduced by at least half. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil then dust with flour/arrowroot whisking until slightly thickened. Stir in the cream, then return meatballs to sauce to heat through.

For Serving

• Cook spaghetti al dente and divide into four bowls. Top each bowl with 3 meatballs, a generous serving of pan sauce and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

The post Chicken Marsala Meatballs for National Meatball Day! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Homemade vinaigrettes are so versatile.

And delicious.

With oil and vinegar as your base, the flavor pairings are endless.

I chose lemony thyme and parsley for my herbs and shallot and garlic for my aromatics.

A splash of champagne vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice are the acidic elements.

For the olive oil I used a nice finishing oil.

I’m really just beginning to understand the wonderful nuances of olive oil varieties. Not an expert but I definitely appreciate a bright ‘green’ EVOO.

Lemony Thyme Vinaigrette was the perfect pairing with our Butter Bean Salad. Hope you’ll give both recipes a try. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Lemony Thyme Vinaigrette

Homemade vinaigrettes are so versatile. And delicious. With oil and vinegar as your base, the flavor pairings are endless.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh herbs (lemony thyme and parsley) leaves only
• 1 small shallot rough chopped
• 2 small cloves garlic peeled
• 2 Tablespoons champagne vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a small food chopper or blender. Puree.
• Store in air tight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

The post Lemony Thyme Vinaigrette appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Huge Meatball Fan.

That’s me.

I’m forever pondering the possibilities.

If you’re ever looking for meatball inspiration check out my favorite recipes here.

My latest classic dish turned into a meatball lovefest are Chicken Piccata Meatballs.

Take all those Chicken Piccata comforting flavors and roll them up into meatball heaven. Enter capers, Parmesan cheese, lemon, garlic, fresh parsley. Oh and then let them bathe in a glorious caper butter wine sauce to soak in even more deliciousness.

Meatball Ingredients

Key ingredient: ground chicken.

Clearly not the most exciting or renowned for flavor.

On its own you could say it’s rather bland and underwhelming. But what it brings to a recipe is a wonderful moist texture and mild taste that begs for big punchy flavor. Welcome capers, lemon zest, garlic and parmesan cheese.

The Process

Combine all the meatball ingredients except the ground chicken, then gently fold in the meat being careful not to overwork the mixture.

Roll into uniform sized meatballs – I was able to get 20 meatballs.

Recipe Note

Recipe Note: I made these meatballs Gluten Free by simply substituting GF Panko Breadcrumbs for traditional in the meatballs and Arrowroot in place of flour in the sauce.

Below is a pic of some of my current pantry staple favorites. Ian’s Gluten Free Panko is fantastic. So much so that we’ve replaced traditional panko in our home with it.

Working in batches, gently brown the meatballs in olive oil and remove to a plate. The meatballs will finish cooking in the sauce before serving.

Because this recipe includes a delicious lemon butter caper wine sauce I recommend serving the Chicken Piccata Meatballs over rice or pasta (I chose cauliflower rice) or with a big hunk of crusty bread.

These Chicken Piccata Meatballs are juicy and bursting with mouthwatering flavors. They’re amazing straight out of the pan or warmed up for lunch the next day!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

Enjoy!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Chicken Piccata Meatballs

All those comforting flavors – capers, lemon, garlic, parmesan – rolled into mouthwatering meatballs that are simmered in a delicious caper butter wine sauce.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Chicken Parmesan, Meatballs

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• 1 pound Ground Chicken
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 Tbl capers chopped
• 1 Tbl lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic & Herb Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• olive oil for sauteing

For the Pan Sauce

• 3 Tbl. butter divided
• 1 Tbl. Flour or Arrowroot
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tbl. fresh lemon juice
• 3 Tbl. capers + 1 Tbl. brine
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Meatballs

• Combine all meatball ingredients except ground chicken in a medium bowl. Gently fold in ground chicken until just combined being careful not to overwork mixture.
• Form mixture into unform sized meatballs, roughly 20. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute meatballs in olive oil until golden brown on all sides. Remove from pan.

For the Pan Sauce

• Melt 1 Tbl. butter in skillet, then dust with 1 Tbl. flour (or Arrowroot), whisk until foamy. Whisk in wine and bring to a simmer, then whisk in chicken broth, lemon juice, capers and return to a gentle simmer. Stir in remaining butter and return meatballs to pan. Simmer 5 minutes to complete cooking.
• Serve meatballs over rice or pasta or with a hunk of crusty bread. Enjoy!

The post Chicken Piccata Meatballs Are A Favorite appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

That qualifies this as a great week night meal.

It’s been nearly a week since my last new recipe share.  Seems like an eternity to me.  I’ve been a bit preoccupied. 

Truth be told I’ve been trying to avoid dreaming about food and instead jump starting a Healthy Choices campaign. 

By ‘campaign’ I mean personal, no worries…I’m not going to solicit you to jump on my band wagon.  It’s just that I needed to get a solid week of “Eat Right and Exercise” under my belt….which I have successfully accomplished.

Chicken Piccata, while it looks absolutely decadent in a picture, is a deliciously light and flavorful dish.  Follow along and I’ll share the super simple process.

For the Chicken

• First begin with boneless skinless chicken breasts that have been trimmed of any fat. 
• Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness, something less than 1/2-inch.  This one step will double if not triple the surface area of each piece.  Now cut these in half.
• I like a light breading on my piccata.  A simple dip into egg whites then into Italian bread crumbs does the trick. 
• If you have time, chill the breaded chicken for 10 – 15 minutes before browning.  This really helps the breading adhere to the chicken.

Recipe note:  I shared with my walking buddy last week some of the basic pantry/fridge/freezer staples that we generally keep on hand.  When boneless skinless chicken breasts go on sale, we will buy several packages.  I trim them, pound them slightly to a uniform thickness, then freeze them flat in quart sized freezer bags. 

In fact we freeze most things flat in freezer bags.  Once frozen they can be stacked or stood upright and take minimal space.  Ingredients also thaw more quickly this way.

For the Pan Sauce

• After browning the chicken, remove it from the skillet while you make the pan sauce. 
• I use a combination of chicken broth and white wine, however you may omit the wine if you choose. 
• Capers, fresh lemon juice, butter and fresh parsley bring the sauce together.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

To Serve

Because the pan sauce is so delicious you’ll want to serve your Chicken Piccata with a nice pasta, like Angel Hair or even on a bed of couscous or steamed broccoli.

Over the course of this past week I have been reminded how much I adore food.  Therefore I have also come back to the key to making Healthy Choices, which is portion control. 

One serving of Chicken Piccata over angel hair pasta with a side of Mushroom Thyme Hericot Verts was completely satisfying.  We enjoyed a restaurant quality meal at home with full control over calories.  That’s winning in my book.

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Chicken Piccata {over Angel Hair Pasta}

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 298kcal

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the piccata…

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 6-8 ounces each
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 Tbl. olive oil

For the pan sauce…

• 2 Tbl. butter
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 2 Tbl. fresh lemon juice
• 2-3 Tbl. capers
• salt & pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley finely chopped

To serve…

• Angel hair pasta prepared according to package instructions.
• Lemon slices

Instructions

For the piccata…

• Pound chicken to an even thickness (between plastic wrap), something less than 1/2-inch. Then cut each breast into two pieces. Dip pieces in egg white then dredge in bread crumbs. If time permits, chill before cooking to set crumbs.
• Spray sauté pan with cooking spray and add just enough olive oil to coat pan. Brown both sides over medium heat until cooked through. Remove from pan.

For the pan sauce…

• Wipe out any crumbs from sauté pan, then bring sauce ingredients to gentle boil for 3-4 minutes until reduced slightly. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

To serve…

• Place chicken piccata on each plate, with serving of angel hair. Spoon sauce over both. Serve with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

Notes

1 4-ounce serving of Chicken Piccata with Pan Sauce = 7 WW Pts+
1 1/2-ounces (dried) Angel Hair Pasta = 4 WW Pts+

The post Chicken Piccata {over Angel Hair Pasta} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Parmesan & Herb Savory French Toast {with Balsamic Onion Jam} is just one more reason I’m addicted to breakfast foods.  Fresh herb flavors with a bit of nutty parmesan went so well with the slightly sweet onion jam.  Let fresh herbs elevate the flavors in your dishes while you take full credit for the results.

Savory French Toast is such a nice variation on a classic breakfast favorite.  Simply replace hints of cinnamon & sugar with herbs & aromatics.

Whisk finely chopped herbs into eggs and cream.  Add favorite seasonings. I’m a huge fan of Mrs. Dash garlic & herb seasoning.  It brings a wonderful savory burst of flavor without adding unwanted sodium.  Allow your bread slices to soak up as much liquid as possible before pan frying.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for a wonderful crispy edge.

I paired our Parmesan & Herb Savory French Toast with Balsamic Onion Jam.  Sweet red onions, slowly reduced with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.  I used my favorite blueberry balsamic but any flavor would be wonderful.

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Parmesan & Herb Savory French Toast {with Balsamic Onion Jam}

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the balsamic onion jam…

• 1 small red onion diced
• 1 tsp. butter
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbl. brown sugar
• 1 Tbl. balsamic vinegar

For the French toast…

• butter for pan frying
• 4 slices bread
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup cream
• 2 Tbl. fresh herbs finely chopped (we used lemony thyme, sage, parsley and chives)
• 1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash garlic & herb seasoning
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

For the balsamic onion jam…

• Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add brown sugar and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in balsamic vinegar and cook an additional 2 minutes.

For the French toast…

• Whisk together eggs, cream, herbs and seasoning. Dredge bread slices in egg mixture turning several times until each slice is soaked.
• Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add soaked bread slices, sprinkle tops of each slice with about 1 Tbl. of parmesan cheese. Pan fry until golden brown. Turn slices, sprinkle each with additional parmesan cheese. Pan try until golden brown.
• Serve topped with a spoonful of balsamic onion jam, sprinkle of parmesan, and fresh snipped chives.

The post Parmesan & Herb Savory French Toast {with Balsamic Onion Jam} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.