Chicken Breasts With Lemon

In this recipe, which Pierre Franey brought to The New York Times in 1992 in one of his 60-Minute Gourmet columns, two teaspoons of lemon zest are added to a simple sauce of lemon juice, thyme, garlic and shallots. It is, at once, lively and elegant. To round it out, it needs a sturdy accompaniment. Franey suggested mashed potatoes with garlic and basil, with just a little olive oil swirled in.

By Pierre Franey

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour for dredging

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken broth, fresh or canned

2 tablespoons butter

Preparation:

1. Season flour with salt and pepper, and dredge the chicken all over. Remove the excess flour.

2. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet large enough to hold the chicken pieces in one layer. Add chicken and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

3. Flip the chicken and cook for 5 minutes more, or until cooked through. Carefully remove the oil from the skillet, leaving the chicken. Discard the oil.

4. Add the thyme, shallots and garlic, and cook for about a minute. Do not burn the garlic. Add the lemon rind, the lemon juice and the broth.

5. Scrape the skillet to dissolve the brown particles that cling to the bottom. Add the butter, and cook for 3 minutes longer. Serve immediately. — NYT