Polenta-crumbed chicken with herb butter SERVES 4

Almond meal gives a delicious nuttiness to this polenta and parmesan crumb, which also makes a great gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs – try it with escalopes of veal. 200 gm fine polenta

60 gm (¾ cup) finely grated parmesan

120 gm (1 cup) almond meal 3 eggs, beaten

4 small chicken breasts, tenderloins removed, pounded flat

Vegetable oil, for shallow-frying

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp red wine vinegar ½ head radicchio, coarsely shredded 1 HERB BUTTER 150 gm salted butter, chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely grated 2 tbsp coarsely chopped oregano

1 tbsp coarsely chopped sage 1 tbsp coarsely chopped thyme Finely grated rind of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 100°C.

For herb butter, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until butter is infused with the flavour of the herbs (5 minutes). Keep warm.

2 Combine polenta and parmesan in a bowl and season to taste. Place almond meal and eggs in separate bowls and season almond meal to taste. Dust chicken with almond meal, shake off excess, coat with egg, then press into polenta mixture to coat and place on an oven tray lined with baking paper.

3 Heat 2cm vegetable oil in a large frying pan over mediumhigh heat until shimmering. Fry chicken in batches, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through (5-6 minutes). Drain on paper towels, then transfer to a wire rack set on an oven tray and keep warm while you cook remaining chicken.

4 Whisk olive oil and vinegar in a bowl, add radicchio, season to taste and toss to coat. Cut chicken into pieces and serve with herb butter and radicchio.