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Chicken Cutlet Club

by Meredith Hayden from The Wishbone Kitchen

Follow this recipe for an elevated club sandwich, with fried chicken cutlets for an added crunch and a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing that will make your tastebuds sing.

From the book

Meredith Hayden

Introduction

I love a club sandwich, and I feel a personal obligation to order it whenever it’s on a menu. So I wanted to create a version catering to my own, very niche, personal preferences, because isn’t that what recipe developing is all about? My ideal club sandwich contains a ranch-y panko fried cutlet (that’s not too thin but not too thick), oven-cooked bacon, very finely shaved cabbage, salted heirloom tomatoes, all drenched in homemade ranch.

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Ingredients

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced and pounded into ¼-inch-thick cutlets
½ cup plain flour
2 medium eggs, beaten
2 cups panko bread crumbs
8 slices bacon
vegetable oil, for frying
12 slices soft white sandwich bread
2 medium ripe tomatoes, preferably heirloom, sliced ¼ inch thick
½ medium head green cabbage, very finely shredded on a mandoline (about 3 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the buttermilk ranch:
⅔ cup whole buttermilk
⅓ cup mayo
¼ cup finely chopped fresh chives 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 2 to 3 tbsp)
1 tbsp finely grated shallot
1 medium garlic clove, peeled and finely grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

BREAD THE CUTLETS: Set up a dredging station with separate wide, shallow bowls for the flour, the eggs, and the panko. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Working with one cutlet at a time, coat each one in flour, then egg wash, then panko, pressing the crumbs in so they adhere. Transfer the breaded cutlets to a roasting tray or a plate and into the fridge for 15 minutes for the breading to set.

COOK THE BACON: Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake until crispy, about 15 to 20 minutes for thick cut. Transfer to a kitchen towel–lined plate to drain and cool.

FRY THE CUTLETS: Add 1 to 2 inches of oil to a high-sided pan. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 180°C. Test the oil temperature by dropping in a few panko crumbs; they should sizzle immediately but not burn. Fry the cutlets, working in batches, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack-lined roasting tray to let the excess oil drain and season with a pinch of salt.

TOAST THE BREAD AND PREP THE VEG: Lightly toast each slice of bread in a toaster until barely golden. Season the sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper and transfer to a kitchen towel–lined plate to absorb excess moisture. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cabbage with enough ranch to coat and a pinch of salt. Toss to combine.

MAKE THE BUTTERMILK RANCH: In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, mayo, chives, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, the shallot, garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a couple cracks of pepper. Season with more lemon and/or salt, if needed, and set aside. The dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.

ASSEMBLE AND SERVE: To build each sandwich, start with a slice of toasted bread and layer on a handful of dressed cabbage, a fried cutlet, a hefty drizzle of ranch dressing, a second slice of bread, 2 pieces of bacon, 1 to 2 slices of tomato, another handful of cabbage, more ranch to taste, and a final piece of bread.

Skewer with toothpicks in each of the four corners, then use a sharp serrated knife to cut each sandwich into quarters. Serve with extra ranch for dipping.

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From the book: The Wishbone Kitchen

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