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Pasta with Chicken and Zucchini

17/11/2023

Pasta with chicken and zucchini is a simple, light, and very versatile dish. Here’s how to prepare it with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti work well)
  • 2 medium zucchinis
  • 300 g of chicken breast
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A handful of grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • A sprig of rosemary or thyme (optional)
  • A pinch of dried chili pepper, chopped (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Wash the zucchinis, trim the ends, and cut them into rounds or cubes, depending on your preference.
  3. Bring a pot of salted water to boil to cook the pasta.
  4. In the meantime, in a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lightly sauté the whole clove of garlic.
  5. Add the chicken and brown well on all sides. If you want, add a sprig of rosemary or thyme to further flavor the meat.
  6. Once the chicken is browned, remove the garlic and add the zucchinis. Cook everything for a few minutes so that the zucchinis soften a little, but remain crunchy.
  7. If you like a spicy touch, this is the time to add the chopped chili pepper.
  8. Drain the pasta al dente and reserve a cup of the cooking water.
  9. Add the pasta to the pan with the chicken and zucchini, mixing well to blend the flavors. If necessary, add some of the reserved cooking water to make it creamier.
  10. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and mix one last time.

Serve the pasta hot, offering more Parmesan on the side for those who want to add a little more.

Curiosity

In Italy, it is common to “mantecare” pasta, i.e., to add the pasta directly into the pan where the sauce was cooked along with a bit of cooking water and mix vigorously. This process helps to bind the sauce to the pasta, creating a delicious cream that coats every single piece of pasta.

Enjoy your meal!

Pasta with Chicken and Zucchini