Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken - Without Cream: A Flavorful Delight
A quick and delicious dish featuring homemade pesto, tender chicken, and pasta. The pesto, made from sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, basil, feta, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice, provides a creamy texture without using cream. This recipe makes 2 servings and combines fresh ingredients for a light yet satisfying meal.
Equipment
- 1 Food processor To blend the pesto ingredients
- 2 Large Skillet or Pan: For cooking the chicken and sautéing vegetables.
- 3 Pot To boil the pasta.
Ingredients
-For the Pesto:
- - Sun-dried tomatoes
- - Pine nuts
- - Fresh basil
- - Feta cheese
- - Garlic
- - Olive oil
- - Lemon juice
For the Pasta and Chicken:
- - 150g chicken breast
- - Olive oil
- - Salt
- - Paprika powder
- - 200g pasta your choice
- - Onion
- - Cherry tomatoes
- - Reserved pasta water
- - Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Prepare the Pesto:
- - In a food processor, combine sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, fresh basil, feta cheese, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. Blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
- Cook the Chicken:
- - Season the chicken breast with salt and paprika powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the Pasta:
- - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
Prepare the Vegetables:
- - In the same skillet used for the chicken, add a little more olive oil if needed. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften and burst.
- Combine Everything:
- - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the onions and tomatoes. Stir in the prepared pesto and reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the sauce reaches the desired creaminess. Add the cooked chicken and toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
Serve:
- - Divide the pasta among serving plates. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with additional basil if desired. Enjoy!