chicken patties with tomato sauce
Back in January I wrote about this creamy carrot parsley soup, stating that soups are what keep me going during one of the craziest work months of the year. The watch industry begins each year with one of the most important fairs in Geneva — the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie — where 16 brands showcase their new collections. Next comes Baselworld in March, an even bigger fair with over 1,500 watch and jewelry brands presenting their latest creations. While you’re reading this post I’m most probably in the train making my yearly voyage up to Basel, getting ready for all the madness to begin. One of the most exhilarating weeks of the horological year has arrived, and although I love all the craziness and fun we have at Basel, there is one thing I tend to miss while I’m away — besides my husband — and that’s homemade food.
At Baselworld, we tend to see over 50 brands and 1,000 watches in a week, with meetings back-to-back every half an hour for seven days straight, Saturday and Sunday included. Sometimes we barely have time to have lunch, and when we do, it often results in whatever we can get our hands on quickly — sandwiches, pizza slices and salads. Not only do I tend to come back home from Basel exhausted, but also weighing 2 kilos less and craving hearty meals, like these chicken patties cooked in a tomato, onion and garlic sauce. I made sure to eat all my favorite dishes over the weekend, and although I did probably gain some weight, I know that starting today I will be shedding off those extra kilos!
As I’m not such a meat eater, I do rely a lot of chicken and fish to get all the proteins my body needs to properly function. Chicken breast is a tricky ingredient to cook with, as it tends to become very dry during the cooking process. I have learned to always pair it with a sauce so that it remains moist and tender, such as in a balsamic vinegar sauce or in this paprika and turmeric spiced tomato sauce. The sauce becomes thicker as you cook it, infusing the chicken with its flavors and spices and making it so soft and full of taste.
These chicken patties are so easy to make and don’t require much effort, just 35 minutes of your time and a couple of ingredients that you most probably always have in your pantry — breadcrumbs, an egg, black pepper and chicken stock powder. I also chose to include grated zucchini in the patties so that they retain their moisture throughout the cooking process, a tip that I learned from my good friend Laura.
I made these chicken patties last week for Friday night, as we had 8 friends over for dinner. I couldn’t wait to share the recipe with you given all the compliments I received that night, and given that we had barely any leftovers, I know for a fact that everyone truly enjoyed them. If you make them while I’m in Basel please think about me, I’ll be surely craving them!
Other savormania recipes to serve for a dinner party: salmon fillets in red pepper sauce, meatballs with tomato sauce and peas and whole fish baked in sea salt crust
- 1kg ground chicken breast
- 1 small zucchini, peeled and grated
- 2 ½ tablespoons matsa meal or breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons chicken stock powder
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon mild paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, zucchini, matsa meal, chicken stock powder, egg and black pepper. Mix with hands to combine. If it seems too watery, add a bit more matsa meal. The mixture should be sticky and wet so that the chicken doesn't dry out. Form patties and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Fry the chicken patties on both sides until golden, about 5 minutes per side, just to give them some color. Do so in two batches if you don't have enough space in the skillet. Add the garlic and onion, and fry for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Dilute the tomato paste in the cup of water and pour over the chicken patties. Season with paprika and turmeric, lower heat and let simmer for 15 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve the patties topped with tomato sauce.
How did your chicken patties with tomato sauce come out? Share photos of your recipe on Instagram by tagging #savormania