People are just realizing that chicken parmesan is not an Italian dish – and its origins could surprise y...

CHICKEN Parmesan may sound like a homely Italian dish but the reality could not be more different.

In fact, the entrée doesn't even come from the European country and its origins may even surprise you.

Chicken parmesan or Parmigiana is one of the classics in Italian-American cuisine.

Chicken breasts are seasoned with salt and pepper before being coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and fried.

The meat is then topped with marinara sauce and lashings of mozzarella before it's baked.

Once cooked, the cheese comes out all stringy and the spicy tomato sauce leaves your taste buds dancing.

It can be served on a bed of pasta such as spaghetti or on its own.

The word "Parmigiana" means in the style of the Italian city of Parma, it's not alluding to the cheese, according to Modern Proper.

The history of chicken parmesan can be traced back to Italian migrants that had moved to the East Coast of America.

It became one of the staple meals in a typical Italian-American home during the 1950s before appearing on the menus of restaurants.

Recipes for chicken parmesan even appeared in the New York Herald Tribune in 1953 and in the New York Times in 1962.

The dish may sound Italian but its origins couldn't be further away from the European country.

One Twitter user said: "I've never actually seen chicken parmigiana in Italy and I've spent 50 per cent of the past 12 years there.

And, another commented: "Chicken parmigiana doesn't exist in Italy… completely American idea… at least the chicken part."

Foodies were disappointed as they claimed they couldn't find a restaurant in Italy that serves the dish.

One person said: "I live in Italy and several restaurants don't have chicken parmigiana. Was very disappointed."

And, a second commented: "Come to find chicken parmigiana ISNT a traditional Italian dish I feel played and disappointed."

If you're not a fan of chicken, veal also works if you want to make parmigiana, or you could opt for eggplant.

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