Penne With Chicken And Vegetables In Basil Sauce Food

CHICKEN & PENNE WITH BASIL PARMESAN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot of salted water and heat to a boil but do not cook the pasta yet.
• Butterfly the chicken breasts so they are the same thickness. (See How to Butterfly a Chicken Breast)
• Coat both sides with the salt and pepper.
• Heat a deep wide saute pan with the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Once hot, add the chicken breasts and count 30 seconds, then cover, lower heat to the lowest flame and continue to cook chicken, flipping once the first side is cooked, until no longer pink inside. Depending on the thickness of the chicken, this should take 5-10 minutes to cook on low.
• Remove cover and place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Pour off but save liquid in the pan.
• Over medium heat add the butter and once melted, add flour and cook for three minutes, stirring often.
• Slowly add the cream whisking as you add.
• Add bay leaves, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, whole basil leaves, nutmeg, mustard and pepper flakes. Bring to a bubble then lower to a simmer and simmer ten minutes, stirring often.
• While cream sauce cooks, add Penne pasta to the hot water and cook to just short of al dente. Still should be a little bit chewy.
• Strain the cream sauce through a fine sieve and discard the solids. Taste and salt if needed. Pour the sauce back into the pan, reserving one cup that will be drizzled over each portion when serving.
• Slice the cooked chicken breast into strips and add to the sauce. Add the liquid that you saved after you cooked the chicken.
• Use a spider or strainer and scoop out and add the pasta to the sauce, but do not discard the pasta water yet.
• Stir the mixture over low to medium heat until the pasta is fully cooked. Add a little pasta water if it starts to dry out a little.
• Serve with the reserved sauce, chopped basil and grated Parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large high-sided saute pan or saucepan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the onions, garlic and tomatoes with the juice. Mash the tomatoes with a potato masher in the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the penne and 2 tablespoons salt and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta.
• Mash the tomatoes again until coarsely chopped. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pasta water to thin out the sauce and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Thin with additional pasta water if necessary.
• Transfer the pasta to the sauce; season with salt and pepper. Add some of the Parmigiano-Reggiano to the pan and combine. Cook the pasta in the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, adding more grated cheese as the pasta cooks. Add some of the basil and parsley and the chile flakes and then drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the pasta to a large shallow serving dish and top with freshly grated cheese. Top with the ricotta and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Garnish with the remaining basil and parsley; serve immediately.

PENNE WITH VEGETABLES IN TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and carrot in oil 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes and tomato sauce. Cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in zucchini and basil; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is desired consistency. Stir in parsley. Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with cheese.