Oven Fried Chicken with Almonds

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesean cheese
• 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• Pinch of ground pepper
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2" thickness and cut into 12 pieces
• Sprig italian Parsely, for garnish

Makes 6 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, almonds, parsley, garlic, salt, thyme and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
2. Place the oil in a shallow dish. Dip the chiken first in the oil, then dredge in the crumb mixture. Place the chicken in a shallow baking pan.
3. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the center of a piece registers 170 F and the juices run clear. (Do not turn the chicken during cooking.) Garnish with parsley.

WW POINTS VALUE: 9

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. This recipe looked so good and I always wanted to try it. I made this dish tonight with a side of Orange-Ginger Green Beans and it was one of the best chicken dishes I ever ate. I didn't have any almonds to cook with for that extra crunch so I substituted 1/4 cup grated orange zest and it was just as delicious. You don't have to fry chicken to get that fried taste and you'll never eat @ KFC or Boston Market for fried chicken after eating this dish, I guarantee.