CREAMY SUN DRIED TOMATO CHICKEN PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• "Instructions In a large pan, on high heat, sautee garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (drained from oil) in 2 tablespoons of oil (reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar - see note above) for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant. Remove sun-dried tomatoes from the pan, leaving the oil, and add chicken tenders, salted and lightly covered in paprika (for color) and cook on high heat for 1 minute on each side. Remove from heat. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some cooked pasta water. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water (to stop cooking). Slice sun-dried tomatoes into smaller bits and add them back to the skillet with chicken. Add half and half and cheese to the skillet, too, and bring to a gentle boil. Immediately reduce to simmer and cook, constantly stirring, until all cheese melts and creamy sauce forms. If the sauce is too thick - don't worry - you'll be adding some cooked pasta water soon. Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce, and stir to combine. Add 1 tablespoon of basil, and at least 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Add about 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water because the creamy sauce will be too thick (do not add all water at once - you might need less or more of it). This will water down the thickness of the cheese sauce and make it creamier. Immediately, season the pasta with salt and more red pepper flakes, to taste, if needed. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes for flavors to combine. Note: Make sure to salt the dish just enough to bring out of the flavors of basil and sun-dried tomatoes."

Steps:

• Instructions:
• Cut chicken into even, bite-sized pieces (approx 3.2cm / 1.3-inch squares).
• Sprinkle 1 ½ tsp sea salt evenly over the chicken and mix thoroughly to combine. Set aside to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes or overnight.
• Prep the veggies - Julienne the zucchinis. Sprinkle with sea salt and mix well. Leave in a colander in the sink to drain off excess moisture. - Finely dice onion and sundried tomatoes and set aside. - Mince garlic and set aside.
• Bring a non-stick frying pan / skillet up to medium-high heat, add ¼ tsp sundried tomato oil to the pan and spread out. Add half the chicken to the pan and spread out into a single layer. Cook for approx 4 minutes until dark golden brown on one side, then flip over and cook for a further 2 minutes. Remove chicken from heat and set aside to rest. Repeat steps with remaining chicken.
• Over a medium-high heat, add ½ tsp sundried tomato oil to the frying pan and spread out. Add onion and cook for approx 3 minutes or until golden brown.
• Reduce frying pan heat to low, add ½ tsp sundried tomato oil and spread out. Add minced garlic, chilli flakes, sundried tomatoes and tomato paste to the centre of the frying pan. Cook for a minute to caramelise, whilst stirring occasionally.
• Add chicken stock to deglaze pan. Scrape pan to remove any bits on the bottom. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, when boiling, add pasta to the pot and stir occasionally. Cook pasta to the minimum specified packet time MINUS 1 minute. When the pasta has finished cooking, scoop out at least ½ cups of the pasta cooking water and set aside.
• While the pasta is cooking, squeeze the julienned zucchini with a paper towel against the sides of the colander to release any additional moisture, toss to loosen and repeat the process, until minimal liquid comes out.
• Pour the hot starchy pasta water over the zucchini noodles, to blanch them and rinse off excess salt. Shake off excess water from the pasta and zucchini noodles in the colander, then return them to the pot, toss gently to combine and set aside.
• Add the cooked chicken, evaporated milk, cornflour and bay leaf (and dried basil if not using fresh) to cooled tomato mixture in the frying pan. Over a medium-low heat, stir constantly until the sauce starts to simmer and thicken, approx 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add half the grated Parmesan cheese to the creamy chicken sauce and stir to combine.
• Add the creamy pasta sauce, pasta water and fresh basil to the pot with the pasta and zucchini noodles. Gently toss pasta for 1 – 2 minutes or until sauce thickens and emulsifies.
• Divide pasta among 6 bowls or containers, top with remaining Parmesan, freshly ground black pepper and a lemon wedge.
• Enjoy!