Chicken and Vegetable Pasta

 

Last Monday seemed like the coldest day we've had in Southern California in a long time. I had big plans to go out to the park, the grocery store and a few Christmas related errands but given temperature there was no chance I would be leaving the warmth of our house. Lunch time came around, and a hungry and impatient baby doesn't  leave room for preparing dishes that take too long to throw together. This pasta dish is perfect because you can throw in anything you have in your fridge like: broccoli (or broccolini in our case) zucchini, squash, bell peppers, (unfortunately, I was out of bell peppers.) I often will make this dish without any chicken, but if you have it why not add it?!

 



 

 

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta

serves 4

 

  

Ingredients

 

1 lb Farfalle pasta (or any kind you like)

2 cups sliced or chopped zucchini (approximately 2 medium sized zucchini)  

1 bunch broccolini, ends cut off and stalks peeled

1 medium sized onion, minced

1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped

6 sundried tomatoes, roughly chopped (I use tomatoes packed in oil)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes

salt

pepper

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish 

 

 

Instructions

 

In a large pot, bring water to a rolling boil. When water has come to a boil add 1 tablespoon of salt and a glug of olive oil (2-3 tablespoons.)  Add zucchini, and cook for about 3 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork and transfer to ice water, cook broccolini for 5 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork, and transfer to ice water. Bring water back to a boil, and cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and reserve 1 cup of cooking water. Drain vegetables from ice water bath.

 

In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, and cook onion until translucent, about 5 minutes, add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add chicken and cook until almost done, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini, broccolini and sundried tomatoes and cook together until chicken is done, about 3 minutes. Add drained pasta, 1 cup grated parmesan If pasta seems dry, slowly add some of the reserved cooking liquid. Toss, and serve with additional parmesan cheese if you'd like, (I always like.)

 

 

photos by me