Lemony oven-baked crunchy chicken nuggets

Delicious chicken nuggets on the lighter and healthier side since they are prepared in the oven instead of frying them. Chicken nuggets are popular not only among the children but the adults as well since they can be served as an appetizer along with various dips or as a main meal along with a mixed salad

From a recipe leaflet of the Greek supermarket

"AB Vassilopoulos"

Ingredients (for 4 people):

700 gr. of chicken breast fillet (or drumsticks), cut in large bites

100 gr. of very fine breadcrumbs

100 gr. of Greek Kefalotyri cheese, grated (or parmesan or pecorino)

½ tea-cup of olive oil

1 ½ tsp of mild (or hot) mustard

1 lemon, the juice

1 tsp of lemon zest

salt

pepper

lemon wedges to serve

Method:

Generously season the chicken bites with salt and pepper and leave in the fridge for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180°C and lay a baking tray with baking paper.

In a large bowl put the olive oil, the lemon juice and the mustard and beat with a whisk thoroughly.

In another bowl put the breadcrumbs, the grated cheese and the lemon zest and stir with a spoon.

Take the chicken out of the fridge and pass each piece first through the oil/mustard mixture and then through the breadcrumbs/cheese mixture. Arrange on the baking tray leaving a bit of space between them.

Return back to the fridge and leave the chicken for about 2-3 hours allowing to marinate but also for the crust to firm up.

Put in the middle shelf of the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until they are nicely golden on all sides.

Serve while they are still hot.