Jake Harper
Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are essentially the same dish, with the latter being the Italian name for the dish. The dish is believed to have originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century by Italian immigrants who swapped out eggplant, used in the traditional Italian parmigiana, for more affordable chicken. The dish consists of a breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of Origin | Chicken Parmesan is an Italian-American dish. |
| Original Recipe | The original recipe for chicken parmigiana uses eggplant instead of chicken. |
| Ingredients | Both dishes use chicken breasts, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, and cheese. |
| Type of Cheese | Chicken Parmesan uses Parmesan cheese. Chicken Parmigiana uses mozzarella cheese, although some recipes for Chicken Parmesan may also include mozzarella. |
| Toppings | Chicken Parmesan may be topped with fresh basil. |
| Cooking Method | Chicken Parmesan is traditionally pan-fried, while Chicken Parmigiana may be baked in the oven. |
| Serving Options | Chicken Parmesan is served as a sandwich or with pasta in the US. Chicken Parmigiana is served with chips and salad in Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken parmesan is an Italian-American dish
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. The dish is often served with a side of spaghetti or in sandwiches. It is a staple in Italian-American cuisine and can be found on the menu at every "red sauce" Italian eatery across the United States. The dish originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century. Italian immigrants took advantage of the meat markets in the United States, incorporating chicken into the traditional Italian dish, melanzane alla Parmigiana, which used fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce instead of chicken.
The name "chicken parmigiana" is derived from the Italian city of Parma, where Parmigiano cheese was first produced. The dish is sometimes made with Parmesan cheese, but it is not always the main cheese used. The name refers more to a style of cuisine from the Parma region of Italy. The dish is also known as "chicken parm," and while it is a beloved menu item at Italian restaurants in the United States, it is not commonly found on Italian restaurant menus outside of the United States or Australia.
Chicken parmesan is typically prepared by coating chicken cutlets in breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, then pan-frying or baking the chicken. The fried or baked chicken is then covered in tomato sauce and a layer of mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven to finish. This two-step cooking process allows the chicken to be fully cooked while also browning the crust and melting the cheese. The traditional method of pan-frying the chicken uses more oil, while the baked method is healthier and uses less oil.
Chicken parmesan has become a popular dish beyond Italian-American cuisine. In Australia, it is often called "parma," "parmi," or "parmy," and it is considered a staple of pub food. In England, a similar dish called "parmo," which consists of fried breaded chicken topped with a white béchamel sauce and cheese, can be found in Middlesbrough. In fusion cuisine, chicken parmesan has been modified to suit Asian taste preferences by adding soy sauce to the tomato sauce or serving it with a side of rice or stir-fried noodles.
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It's made with chicken breast, breadcrumbs, and tomato sauce
Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are the same dish, with the former being the American name for the latter. The dish consists of chicken breast, breadcrumbs, and tomato sauce, along with mozzarella, Parmesan or provolone cheese. The chicken is coated in breadcrumbs and fried, then baked with the tomato sauce and cheese.
Chicken parmesan is an Italian-American dish, with roots in Italy, where it is known as melanzane alla parmigiana, made with breaded, fried slices of eggplant in place of chicken. The name "parmigiana" is derived from the Italian city of Parma, where Parmesan cheese was first produced, though the eggplant version of the dish is more common in Southern Italy than in Parma itself.
Upon arriving in North America, Italian immigrants began to incorporate affordable chicken into the dish, and it became a popular staple in restaurants serving Italian-American cuisine by the 1950s. The dish is typically served with pasta or as a sandwich filling.
In Australia, chicken parmigiana is often called "parma", "parmi", or "parmy", and is considered a staple of pub food, typically served with chips and salad. In England, a similar dish called "parmo", which consists of fried breaded chicken topped with béchamel sauce and cheese, can be found in Middlesbrough.
While the traditional method for cooking chicken parmesan is to pan-fry the chicken, it can also be baked in the oven, using less oil and resulting in a healthier dish.
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It can be cooked via pan-frying or baking
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, can be cooked via pan-frying or baking. The former is the traditional method, which involves coating chicken cutlets in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then frying them in a pan with olive oil. This step only browns the chicken, so the dish must then be baked in the oven to finish cooking. This method requires more oil and effort but always yields delicious results.
The baked method, on the other hand, uses less oil and is considered healthier. This technique involves baking the breaded chicken completely in the oven. The chicken cooks through, and the crust browns during the first chunk of baking time. In the last few minutes, the sauce and cheese are added to the chicken to melt and finish the dish. The results of this method are almost identical to pan-frying, but it saves time and uses less oil.
The choice between pan-frying and baking depends on personal preference and desired level of effort. The traditional pan-frying method may be favoured by those seeking an authentic experience, while the baked method offers a convenient and healthier alternative with minimal compromise on taste.
Regardless of the cooking method, chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana share the same basic ingredients and preparation techniques. The dish consists of breaded chicken breasts, covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. It is an Italian-American staple that originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century.
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It's served in sandwiches, pies, or with pasta
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is a versatile dish that can be served in sandwiches, pies, or alongside pasta. In the Greater Toronto Area, for example, California Sandwiches is a chain that offers chicken parmesan sandwiches. In Australia, chicken parmigiana is often served as a main meal alongside chips and salad.
Chicken parmigiana is also a popular dish in England, where it has inspired a dish called "parmo", which consists of fried breaded chicken or pork topped with béchamel sauce and cheese. In Hungary, a similar dish is called "mátrai borzaska" or "borzas", which uses a mix of flour and shredded potatoes for breading and is topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese.
In fusion cuisine, chicken parmesan has been adapted to suit Asian taste preferences by adding soy sauce to the tomato-based sauce and serving it with rice or stir-fried noodles. This dish is sometimes called chicken katsu parmesan in English-speaking areas.
Chicken parmigiana can also be served with pasta. For example, Paesana, a company that sells pasta sauces, recommends using their marinara, tomato basil, or Sicilian gravy sauces for a memorable homemade chicken parmigiana dish.
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It's called 'chicken parm' in the US and 'parma' in Australia
Chicken Parmesan, or chicken parm, is a dish consisting of breaded chicken breasts covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. It is sometimes served with ham or bacon. The dish is said to have originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century. It is believed to be based on a combination of the Italian parmigiana, which uses fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce, and cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy.
In the United States, it is commonly referred to as "chicken parm" and has become a popular staple in restaurants serving Italian-American cuisine. The name "chicken parm" is derived from the use of Parmesan cheese in the dish, which originates from the city of Parma in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna.
In Australia, chicken parmesan is often called "chicken parma," "parmi," or "parmy." It has been a part of Australian cuisine since the 1950s and is considered a staple of pub food. It is typically served with a side of chips and salad, although there is some debate over whether the chips should be served under or next to the chicken.
While the exact reason for the name "parmigiana" is unclear, it is believed to be related to the Parma region in Italy and not solely to the use of Parmesan cheese in the dish. The original version of this dish, Melanzane (Eggplant) alla Parmigiana, is made with fried eggplant slices instead of chicken and is considered authentically Italian.
Regardless of the name, chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana refer to the same dish, a beloved item on the menu in Italian-American restaurants and a staple in many homes.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken parmesan is a dish consisting of breaded chicken breasts covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan or provolone. It is also known as chicken parm or chicken parmigiana.
Chicken parmigiana is the same dish as chicken parmesan. It is also known as parm or parmy and is considered a staple of pub food in Australia.
Chicken parmesan is an Italian-American dish. It is believed to have originated in the Italian neighbourhoods along the east coast of the US in the early 20th century.
Chicken parmesan can be cooked by pan-frying or baking the chicken. The traditional method is to pan-fry the chicken in oil before baking it in the oven.
