Chicken Lasagna With Pesto Cream Sauce Food

PESTO CHICKEN LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute red pepper and onion in butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in flour until blended; gradually stir in the milk, broth, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the chicken, pesto and olives. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, combine the egg, ricotta cheese and feta cheese., Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Layer with four noodles, half of the ricotta mixture, half of the spinach, half of the pesto mixture and 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining the noodles, sauce and mozzarella cheese., Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes more or until a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN WITH PESTO CREAM

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add the basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, half of the garlic, salt and black pepper and pulse to combine. With the food processor running, drizzle in the 1/3 cup olive oil until the sauce comes together and is smooth. Set aside.
• Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally so you have 8 thinner cutlets. Sprinkle both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the cutlets and cook through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil along with the red onion and remaining sliced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rainbow chard and cook, stirring, until lightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and stir for an additional 30 seconds. Remove to a plate.
• Without cleaning the skillet, add the cream and heat for 1 minute. Stir in about a third of a cup of the pesto and return the chicken to the pan. Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. (Refrigerate the remaining pesto in an air tight container for up to 5 days.)
• Make a bed of rainbow chard on a large platter. Top with the chicken cutlets and drizzle the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the tomatoes and serve.

PESTO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat heavy whipping cream and water in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
• Add butter, pesto sauce, garlic powder and salt. Reduce heat and continue to cook about 5 more minutes over low heat.
• Stir in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese until melted.

CHICKEN, SQUASH & PESTO LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large casserole dish. Add the onions and cook until softened, then add the garlic and cook for a few mins more. Push the onions and garlic to the edge of the pan, add the chicken breasts and cook for a few mins each side to brown. Sprinkle over the flour and stir it into the onion mixture. Tip in the stock and season. Cover and simmer for 10 mins - or until the chicken is cooked through. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Add half the mascarpone and the pesto, stirring until the mascarpone has melted into the sauce, bubble for a few mins to thicken a little, then remove from the heat and stir in the basil.
• Meanwhile, place the squash in a large bowl with 2tbsp of water, cover with cling film and microwave on High for 12-15 mins, until really soft. Season the squash with a little of the nutmeg and some salt and pepper, and mash lightly with a fork.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Spoon half the chicken mixture into the bottom of a 20 x 30cm ovenproof dish. Cover with 4 lasagne sheets, then the butternut squash and half the Parmesan. Top with another 4 lasagne sheets, the remaining chicken mixture, then a final layer of lasagne. Mix enough milk into the remaining mascarpone to make a smooth sauce - you need to aim for a consistency similar to white sauce. Season with remaining nutmeg, salt and pepper, then pour over the lasagne. Scatter over the remaining Parmesan and the pine nuts. Bake for 40 mins until piping hot in the centre and crunchy and golden on top. Scatter with a few extra basil leaves before serving.