Sophie Bennett
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is a dish consisting of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. The dish is thought to have originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century, with Italian immigrants incorporating chicken into the traditional dish of parmigiana, which used fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce. The name chicken parmesan is derived from the Italian town of Parma, where the Parmesan cheese used in the dish is produced, and refers to the style of preparation rather than the specific type of cheese used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century |
| Original Ingredients | Breaded eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and Parmesan cheese |
| Current Main Ingredients | Chicken, Mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, and Parmesan cheese |
| Reason for Name | The dish is prepared in the Parma style, hence the name |
| Name Variations | Chicken parm, parma, parmi, parmy, parmo, escalope parmesan, and chicken katsu parmesan |
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What You'll Learn
The dish is prepared in the 'Parma style'
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 pasta, such as spaghetti, and has become a staple in Italian restaurants worldwide. While the dish is commonly associated with Italian cuisine, it actually originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century.
Upon arriving in North America, Italian immigrants began to incorporate more affordable and accessible meats, such as chicken, into their traditional dishes. Thus, chicken parmesan was likely adapted from a combination of the Italian parmigiana, a dish using fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce, and cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy.
The name "chicken parmesan" or "chicken parmigiana" refers to the style of preparation, which is inspired by the Italian city of Parma. The cheese we know as parmesan or parmigiana is named after this city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, where it was first produced. While the dish may not have originated in Parma specifically, the style of preparation is reflective of the cuisine from that region.
In addition to the cheese, the term "Parmigiana" or "Parm" in the dish's name also refers to the style of preparation, which involves breading and frying the main ingredient, whether it is chicken or eggplant. This style of preparation is common in Italian cuisine and is often associated with the Parma region.
Furthermore, the breading used to coat the chicken in chicken parmesan typically contains a significant amount of Parmesan cheese. While mozzarella may be the most visible topping, the Parmesan cheese in the breading adds flavour and contributes to the overall Parma-style preparation of the dish.
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Parmigiana refers to the Italian city of Parma
Chicken Parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is believed to have originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century. It is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. The dish is said 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.
The term "parmigiana" in chicken parmigiana refers to the Italian city of Parma. The cheese known as Parmigiana or Parmesan is named after the city of Parma in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, where the cheese was first produced. The dish, therefore, refers to the style of preparation associated with the city of Parma, even though it may not use Parmesan cheese and may instead be made with mozzarella.
The original version of the dish, melanzane alla Parmigiana, can be translated as "aubergine in the style used in Parma". It was made with fried eggplant (aubergine), tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, with Parmesan cheese in the breadcrumb mixture. This dish is believed to have been a staple in the southern regions of Campania and Sicily. When Italian immigrants arrived in America, they found that proteins such as chicken were more affordable and accessible, leading to the creation of chicken parmigiana.
Chicken parmigiana, also known as "chicken parm", became popular in restaurants serving Italian-American cuisine by the 1950s. It has since become a staple in Italian restaurants worldwide and has given rise to variations such as the parmo in Middlesbrough, England, and the California Sandwich in the Greater Toronto Area.
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Parmigiana is the name of the cheese
The prototypical chicken parmigiana was made with breaded, fried slices of eggplant in place of chicken for a dish called "Melanzane alla Parmigiana". This translates as "Aubergine in the style used in Parma", and it is made with fried aubergine, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan. The dish is sometimes made with Parmesan cheese, and it refers to a style that usually, but not always, contains cheese. One of the places the style originated was Parma, Italy.
The dish is also sometimes made with a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. The Parmesan is used in the breading for the chicken, while the mozzarella is used as a topping. The Parmesan in the breading gives the dish its name, even though mozzarella is the prominent cheese.
Chicken Parmesan was invented in the United States by Italian immigrants, who combined the Italian parmigiana (a dish using fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce) with cotoletta (a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy). Upon arriving in North America, Italian immigrants began to take advantage of the meat market, incorporating chicken into parmigiana.
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Parmigiana is a style that usually includes cheese
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone cheese. Ham or bacon is sometimes added. The dish is thought 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, a dish using fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce, and cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy.
The prototypical chicken parmigiana was made with breaded, fried slices of eggplant in place of chicken, in a dish called melanzane alla Parmigiana. This dish is translated as "aubergine in the style used in Parma". While the precise reason for attaching "parmigiana" to the meal's preparation may be unclear, it is known that when Italians immigrated to America, they found that proteins like chicken were more affordable and accessible. This led to the creation of new dishes, such as chicken parmigiana, which originated in Italian neighbourhoods along the East Coast.
Chicken parmigiana has become a popular dish in various parts of the world, including Australia, where it is often served with chips and salad. In fusion cuisine, chicken parmesan has also been modified to suit Asian taste preferences by adding a small amount of soy sauce to the tomato-based sauce and serving it with rice or stir-fried noodles. This dish is sometimes marketed as chicken katsu parmesan.
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Parmesan is used in the breading
Chicken parmesan, or chicken parmigiana, is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and cheese. The cheese used can vary, and while mozzarella is a popular choice, parmesan can also be used, or a combination of the two. Parmesan is also often used in the breading, which coats the chicken breast. This is done by dipping the chicken in flour, egg, and seasoned breadcrumbs before frying. The breadcrumbs are often mixed with parmesan cheese, which adds flavor to the dish.
The dish is thought to have originated in the Italian diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century, created by Italian immigrants who began to incorporate more affordable and accessible meats, such as chicken, into their traditional recipes. The name "chicken parmesan" or "chicken parmigiana" likely refers to the style of preparation, which is inspired by the Italian city of Parma. The dish may have evolved from a traditional Italian dish called "melanzane alla Parmigiana", which consists of fried eggplant slices in a tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
While mozzarella is often the primary cheese used in chicken parmesan, the inclusion of parmesan in the breading and the historical use of parmesan in the dish's evolution likely contribute to its name. The use of parmesan in the breading adds a distinct flavor and helps to differentiate the dish from other similar dishes that use different types of cheese.
In addition to the historical and cultural significance of parmesan in the dish's origins, the use of parmesan in the breading also has practical considerations. Parmesan cheese has a strong flavor and can enhance the taste of the dish. It also has a hard and granular texture, which can help to create a crispy and flavorful crust when mixed with breadcrumbs. The combination of parmesan and breadcrumbs creates a unique texture and flavor profile that is characteristic of chicken parmesan.
While the name "chicken parmesan" may seem misleading given the prominent use of mozzarella, the inclusion of parmesan in the breading and the historical context of the dish's evolution help to justify its title. The use of parmesan adds a unique flavor and texture to the dish, and the name likely pays homage to its Italian roots and the style of preparation associated with the city of Parma.
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