Juicy low-carb chicken piccata

Juicy low-carb chicken piccata with chicken breast, lemon, capers, butter and almond flour: lemony, savoury and quick to make in the pan.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 15 min
• Total time: 30 min
• Calories: 350 kcal per serving
• Protein: 42 g
• Fat: 19 g
• Carbs: 3 g

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breast fillets
• 2 tbsp almond flour
• 3 tbsp butter & 1 tbsp olive oil
• Juice of 2 unwaxed lemons
• 1 jar of tiny salty capers

Method

You’ll need: frying pan · wooden spoon

1. Pat the chicken breast fillets dry and carefully flatten them so they cook evenly. Put the almond flour on a plate and turn the fillets in it lightly.
2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan. Fry the chicken breast fillets on both sides until golden brown and almost cooked, then take them out briefly.
3. Add the lemon juice to the pan and loosen the browned bits. Stir in the capers and let the sauce reduce briefly until it looks slightly thick.
4. Stir the remaining butter into the lemon and caper sauce. Return the chicken breast fillets to the pan and finish cooking them in the sauce until juicy and cooked through.
5. Taste the sauce. If the capers are very salty, you usually won't need any extra salt.
6. Arrange on plates and pour the lemon and caper sauce over the top. Best served straight away.

Good to know

This dish is simple and really satisfying. Lightly browned outside, juicy inside, with a bright, salty lemon note. A meal like this doesn't feel complicated but tastes very well-rounded.

Swaps

Almond flour → coconut flour (more fibre, often a little less omega-6) Butter → ghee (pure butterfat, contains only traces of lactose and casein) Chicken breast fillets → skinless chicken thigh (usually juicier, often slightly more iron and zinc) Jarred capers in brine → capers in water or well-rinsed capers (less sodium with a similar flavour)

Allergens

Contains milk from the butter and tree nuts from the almond flour; capers are often very salty, so only use them sparingly for small children, and during pregnancy thoroughly cooked chicken and cleanly handled ingredients are important.

Frequently asked questions

What nutrients does chicken breast contain?

Chicken breast mainly provides protein plus niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus and selenium. Its fat content is naturally rather low; most of the fat here comes from the butter and olive oil.

What do capers bring nutritionally?

Capers contain small amounts of polyphenols and minerals, but they're mainly interesting for flavour because of their salt and acidity. Their sodium content can be quite high, depending on the product.

Is the lemon only there for flavour?

No, lemon juice also brings vitamin C and organic acids. Heating and storage can, however, reduce the vitamin C content.

How well does almond flour agree with people?

Almond flour provides some fibre and vitamin E, but it can be a problem if you have a nut allergy. If you have a sensitive stomach, start with the small amount used here.

Why use olive oil and butter together?

Olive oil mostly provides monounsaturated fats, butter mainly saturated fats and milk components. Together they give a rounded mouthfeel and a stable base for the sauce, even though butter is, of course, a rich fat.