Phenomenal Chicken and Pasta in Creamy Pesto Sauce

Description

An extremely delicious meal: the crunch of pine nuts and the tang of sun-dried tomatoes combine with chicken and pasta in a heavenly pesto cream sauce. Be sure to taste and salt before serving, because depending on what kind of chicken broth you use, the dish may require no salt at all or may be extremely under-salted.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts
  • 1 medium ripe tomato, chopped
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2 tablespoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 1 (16 ounce) package dried penne pasta
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ (8 ounce) jar oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Place basil
  2. garlic
  3. Parmesan
  4. pine nuts
  5. and tomato in a food processor. Gradually add olive oil
  6. while pulsing
  7. until mixture is smooth and creamy.
  8. In a bowl
  9. stir together chicken broth
  10. 1 cup white wine
  11. dried basil
  12. oregano
  13. and minced garlic. Stir in chicken pieces.
  14. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta
  15. and cook until just al dente
  16. about 8 minutes. Drain
  17. and rinse under cold water. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
  18. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions
  19. and sprinkle with sugar. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts
  20. and cook about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken and marinade. Stir in 1/2 cup white wine. Simmer chicken pieces
  21. stirring occasionally
  22. about 8 minutes.
  23. Add pasta and pesto to the skillet. Stir in cream
  24. and cook until the sauce is thickened. Adjust salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  25. and serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 55 mins

Servings: 6

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