Chicken and pasta pair up with lemon and red pepper for a spicy, zesty, delicious dish from www.gourmetrecipe.com.
http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/garlic-chicken-and-pasta
1. Chicken Pasta Recipes
What’s the difference between chicken pasta and a chicken noodle dishes. Some
say that pasta is a kind of noodle primarily used in Italian cuisine while noodle is a
more general global culinary classification. In a nutshell, the disparity can also be
summed up in three factors: the ingredients they’re made of, the shape and the
way they’re eaten.
Pasta is made with semolina or durum wheat while noodles are made with a
combination of flours and starches (both unleavened). The former can be made
into a variety of forms like small or big strips or tubes, straight or curved
cylindrical shapes, bows and twists. Noodles, on the other hand, are usually
rolled or pulled into long and flat shapes, thickly or thinly cut. Lastly, pasta is
eaten with a fork and spoon while noodles are eaten with chopsticks.
If you have a lot of time, patience and a pasta maker, by all means make your own
as nothing beats the flavor and texture of fresh home-made noodles. With only a
handful of ingredients, namely flour, salt, water, eggs and extra virgin olive oil you
can create pasta perfection if you know the secrets of using the right ingredients,
proper kneading, rolling and cooking.
Do’s in preparation: use the best olive oil you can afford, room temperature eggs,
cold water (for a healthier product, replace with juiced vegetables like spinach,
beet root or carrot) and a strong wheat flour; roll out slowly; cook in water at a
rolling boil with a little oil. Do not over knead, over work, overcook. When
preparing noodles that will be cooked further after boiling, do not cook to
doneness as it will be heated further with the sauce or in the oven. Al dente
(Italian for “to the tooth” or “to the bite”) pertains to the correct way that pasta
should be served – firm not hard, just right not limp and soggy.
The chicken pasta dishes showcased are both Italian inspired and otherwise and
will surely be a hit among children as well as adults. A fine example of comfort
food are the noodle dishes containing carrots, celery and onion with herbs and
egg noodles – perfect when one is under the weather. The lemon-pepper penne
2. and chicken tender dishes are traditional dishes that have a sizable meat
component so that it can stand on its own as an entrée.
Garlic Chicken and Pasta
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty Level: Average
Ingredients:
12 oz. spaghetti or angel hair pasta, 2 1/2 tbsp. butter, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1 large
clove garlic (chopped), 1 lb. boneless, skinless (chicken breast, cut into strips), 1
tbsp. lemon zest, grated, 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 tbsp.
dried parsley flakes
Preparation Instructions:
Cook pasta according to directions on package. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of water.
Return pasta to the cooking pot. While pasta is cooking, heat 2 tbsp. of the butter,
along with the oil, over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook,
stirring, for about a minute, or until the garlic is fragrant. Add chicken, lemon zest,
and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked, 3-5 minutes.
Stir in lemon juice. Add chicken to the pasta, along with the parsley, remaining
butter and reserved water. Toss to coat. Serve.