Pasta With Pesto And Poached Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA WITH VEGGIES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• In the mean time, core, seed and slice the bell peppers into thin strips and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until hot and sauté the peppers, onions and asparagus over medium-high heat until softened but still crisp, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer cooked vegetables to a large mixing bowl and add the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss with 1/2 cup of the pesto and 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Once the water boils, cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente (per package instructions). Drain, return to the pot and toss with the remaining pesto and 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Mound the cooked pasta on a large serving dish (or 4 individual serving plates) and top with the chicken and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (or more to taste). Serve immediately.

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
• Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil, season and wrap in kitchen foil. Bake in the oven for around 15-16 minutes until cooked through. (Note that if the chicken breast is larger than specified, it may take longer to cook. A 150-200g/5½-7oz skinless chicken breast fillet will need 16-18 minutes; a 200-250g/7-9oz one 18-20 minutes; and a 250-300g/9-10½ one 20-22 minutes. If cooking more than four breasts at a time, increase the cooking time by 5 minutes, and don't forget to check that each breast is cooked through.) Alternatively you can poach the chicken - place the chicken in a pan along with the peeled onion and carrot and cover with 2.5cm/1in cold water. Bring to a simmer, add a good pinch of salt and poach for 10-15 minutes, with a lid on, until the chicken is completely cooked.
• While the chicken is cooking, make the pesto. If you are using a pestle and mortar, start by pounding the garlic and salt to a rough paste, then add the pine nuts, then basil, then oil, and pound to a consistency you like. Stir in the cheese to finish. If you are working in a food processor you can blend the garlic, salt, pine nuts, basil and oil all together, and once you have a consistency you like, stir in the cheese.
• Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest until cool enough to handle, then shred into a large mixing bowl and toss gently with the pesto.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, and boil the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, saving a cup of pasta cooking water. Combine the pasta with the chicken and pesto, and toss together, adding a bit of pasta water if it needs loosening. Serve.

PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until tender, then stir in chicken. Season with red pepper flakes. Cook until chicken is golden, and cooked through.
• In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. Toss to coat evenly.