A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE CHICKEN PARM...
Brief so you can have more time to eatyour chicken parm
Chicken parm (short for chicken parmesan or chicken parmigiana) in its current form – tender, breaded chicken cutlets with melted cheese and tomato sauce – was actually created in America, though its origins are Italian.
Not surprisingly, several regions of Italy take credit for inventing baked parmesan dishes. (Italians can’t seem to agree on anything.) The ancestor of chicken parm is melanzane alla parmigiana, or eggplant parm. Eggplant parm was known as a "la cucina povera” dish, which means "from the kitchen of the poor". It was based on eggplant, often grown in local gardens, combined with ingredients that even the poorest of families would have on hand. It was not breaded and fried, nor was it topped with a savory sauce. Rather, it was a meal baked in olive oil with thin slices of eggplant laid at the bottom of the dish. Most families could grow everything they needed to make eggplant parmigiana, including basil and tomatoes. It was a simple but filling dish for large families, with plenty of protein provided by the eggplant and cheese.
The substitution of chicken for eggplant, as well as the crispy breading on the cutlet, was a change made in America. USA! USA! In the late 19th century through the early 20th century, known as the First Diaspora, a large wave of Italians arrived to the United States looking for work and higher wages. At the time, eggplant was more difficult to find in the U.S. (this was long, long before the age of Eataly and farmers markets). But working-class families were earning more, and so able to add chicken to their plates. That is the American dream right there.
Soon enough, chicken parm was making its way onto restaurant menus. Its time had officially come in 1962 when it was featured as a recipe in the New York Times. America was hooked. Just like me.
FAQs
The dish, also known as "chicken parm", originated in the northeast United States from Italian immigrants, and became a popular staple in restaurants serving Italian-American cuisine by the 1950s. Home versions also grew in popularity.
What is the original parmigiana? ›
The ancestor of the modern dish appears in Vincenzo Corrado's cookbook Il cuoco galante from 1786. His recipe described eggplant seasoned with butter, herbs, cinnamon, other spices and grated Parmesan cheese, which was then covered with a cream sauce of egg yolks before being baked in an oven.
What is the difference between chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan? ›
Brace yourself for this one—they're the same dish! Chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmigiana are just different names for the same exact recipe. And, with a name like “chicken Parmigiana”, you might assume that this recipe is Italian. While it has roots in Italy (in a way), chicken Parmesan is all-American.
Did eggplant or chicken parm come first? ›
Chicken Parmesan's True Origins
The dish was none other than eggplant parmesan! Eggplant parmesan actually originated before chicken parmesan was created, which means that chicken parmesan is an American version of an Italian recipe!
Where is the origin of parmesan? ›
The first record of Parmigiano-Reggiano is from 1254. Legend has it, that around 900 years ago, Benedictine monks, living in the Parma-Reggio region of Italy, created this cheese when they needed to find a way to extend the shelf-life of the large quantity of milk they were producing.
Is chicken parmesan a real Italian dish? ›
Despite being a staple of Italian-American cuisine, “chicken parmesan” is nowhere to be found in Italy. Instead, Italians nosh on parmigiana – eggplant layered with tomato sauce and cheese.
What does parmigiana mean in Italian? ›
The dish is claimed by both Campania and Sicily. While "parmigiana" means "from Parma" (in Northern Italy), the dish is not part of Parma food. It is based on melanzane alla parmigiana (alt. parmigiana di melanzane) or eggplant parmigiana (or eggplant Parmesan), a classic Southern Italian dish.
What is the full name for chicken parmesan? ›
The chicken parmigiana, or chicken parmesan (or chicky chicky parm parm if you're Pawnee resident Tom Halverford), is a classic dish coming from the 20th century when Italians emigrated from Italy to all over the globe.
Is there a difference between parmesan and parmigiana? ›
Parmesan Cheese in Italy
In the European Union, “parmesan” is accepted as a translation of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Within these countries, the two terms refer to the same cheese.
Why is it called chicken parm if it's mozzarella? ›
Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.
A thicker, stout pasta shape, like a ridged rigatoni, works well with chicken parmesan because it matches the heft and satisfying texture of the protein.
Who invented the chicken parmigiana? ›
In the US, the invention is credited to those red-checked-tableclothed places in New York where mobsters got whacked. It was most likely a collision of a northern Italian veal cotoletta with the cheese and tomato sauce of a southern Italian eggplant melanzane parmigiana.
Is chicken parm an American thing? ›
Chicken parm (short for chicken parmesan or chicken parmigiana) in its current form – tender, breaded chicken cutlets with melted cheese and tomato sauce – was actually created in America, though its origins are Italian. Not surprisingly, several regions of Italy take credit for inventing baked parmesan dishes.
Which is healthier, chicken parmesan or eggplant parmesan? ›
Eggplant parmesan tends to be lighter on the stomach and is considered to be more healthy. Eggplant is also less expensive. Restaurants find that it is a much cheaper option for guests.
Why do Americans call it chicken parmesan? ›
Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.
Where did chicken parmo originate? ›
Parmo, or Teesside Parmesan, is a dish originating in Middlesbrough, England, and a popular item of take-away food in the Teesside area. It consists of a breaded cutlet of chicken or pork topped with a white béchamel sauce and cheese, usually cheddar.
What is a fact about chicken parmigiana? ›
The dish originated from 20th-century Italian diaspora. It has been speculated that the dish is based on a combination of the Italian melanzane alla Parmigiana, a dish using breaded eggplant slices instead of chicken, with a cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy.
