Almond-Crusted Chicken With Sumac Salad (Printable)

Crispy almond-crusted chicken with vibrant kale salad featuring tangy sumac and fresh herbs for a wholesome meal.

# What You Need:

→ Almond-Crusted Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup almond meal or finely ground almonds
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil for frying

→ Marinated Kale and Sumac Salad

10 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
16 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 2 tsp sumac
18 - 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a shallow bowl, combine almond meal, Parmesan, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.
03 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Dip each breast in beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with almond mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
05 - Transfer seared chicken to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cooked through, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F.
06 - While chicken bakes, place torn kale in a large bowl. Massage with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp salt until leaves soften, approximately 2 minutes.
07 - Add sliced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and sumac to the kale. Toss to combine evenly.
08 - Top salad with toasted slivered almonds immediately before serving. Plate almond-crusted chicken alongside marinated kale and sumac salad.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The almond crust stays crunchy even after baking, giving you that satisfying bite without any breading or flour.
  • Massaging the kale transforms it from tough to tender in under two minutes, and the sumac adds a lemony zing that feels unexpected and fresh.
02 -
  • If you skip drying the chicken, the egg and almond coating will slide right off in the pan, leaving you with a sad, patchy crust.
  • Massaging the kale is not optional, raw kale is too tough and bitter, but two minutes of squeezing transforms it into something tender and almost sweet.
03 -
  • Use a meat mallet to gently pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook at the same rate and stay juicy.
  • Toast the slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, shaking the pan often, they go from perfect to burnt in seconds.
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