Basil Pesto Pasta with Chicken
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
Pesto Sauce:
  • 2 Cups Fresh Basil leaves
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley leaves
  • ¼ Cup Pine Nut ( Alternative - Cashew Nuts)
  • 4-5 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 4-5 Cloves of Garlic
  • 1 Teaspoon Sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon Salt (approx.)
  • 2 Teaspoon Vinegar
  • ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese (Optional)
Other Ingredients:
  • 300-350gm Penne Pasta
  • 250 gm Boneless Chicken (Cut into small cubes)
  • ½ Tablespoon Garlic Paste
  • ½ Teaspoon Chili Flakes
  • ½ Teaspoon Seasoning (Cajun) - Optional
  • Salt (as needed)
  • 200 gm Broccoli (steamed) [the_ad id="2092"]
  • 1 Medium size Roasted Bell pepper (Chopped)
  • 4-5 Button Mushroom - Cut & Saute (Optional)
  • ¼ CUP Cream/Half & half or 2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
  • Sugar (Pinch of)
  • Dried Oregano (Sprinkles)
  • Garlic Powder (Sprinkles)
  • 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
  • 21/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • Salt(as needed)
Instructions
Pesto Sauce:
  1. Take all the ingredients in a food processor, which are listed above for the pesto sauce and make a paste. Try to use the ingredients according to the actual measurement, and make your home made pesto sauce.
Sauté The Chicken:
  1. Heat a pan and add ½ tablespoon olive oil, when the oil is hot enough add ½ Tablespoon Garlic Paste and sauté it for few minutes. Now add chicken pieces, salt, chili flakes and sprinkles some seasoning, then sauté the chicken for few minutes until it has been cooked. Keep the chicken aside.
Boiled The Pasta:
  1. Add water and salt to a large pot, put it on medium heat and wait until the water started boiling. Put the pasta & boil them as per package instruction. Once the pasta is soften enough, drain the water. Keep 1 Cup of the boiled Pasta water aside.
Final Step of Making of Pesto Pasta: [the_ad id="2092"]
  1. Heat 2 tablespoon of Olive Oil in a skillet or cooing pan, then add chili flakes & chopped garlic/garlic paste. Sauté them 30 sec.
  2. Add Chicken, steamed broccoli, mushroom & sauté for few minutes.
  3. Now add the boiled pasta and mix well. Then its time to add ¾ Cup of pasta water that you had kept aside.
  4. Reduce the flame, add ¼ Cup of Cream or Half & Half. In case you don't have either of them, add 2 Tablespoons of mayonnaise.
  5. At this time let the pasta cook slowly, it will absorb all the flavors. Cook them until the right consistency.
  6. Now add the roasted bell pepper. Then add pinch of sugar and 5 tablespoons of pesto sauce that you have already made then sauté for few minutes in low-medium flame.
  7. At last sprinkles some oregano, garlic powder,1 teaspoon lime juice, pinch of sugar, even adjust your salt level.
  8. Your Pesto Pasta is ready to be served.
Notes
Roasted Bell Pepper would give you the best flavor, however if you want to avoid it, you can just sauté the red pepper then use them in the recipe.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 4
Recipe by Fun Love and Cooking at https://www.funloveandcooking.com/basil-pesto-pasta-chicken-recipe/