Chicken Pasta Primavera

There is this lovely time of the year, when summer vegetables start to make casual appearances, winter vegetables are still hanging out and spring vegetables boastfully grace us with their presence. I love this in between everything time as the produce options change almost daily. It is true spring, committed to several vegetables as a merging transition of the seasons.

I created this Primavera by abandoning the heavy cream sauces that occasionally are chosen for a light broth based sauce instead that merges the flavors together while allowing each to stand on their own. The vegetables could be easily changed depending on your garden or veggie drawer.

The chicken has a light crispiness from a brown rice flour coating and the finishing touch are toasted pine nuts. Enjoy and please share any variations you may try. This is a Gluten-Free option, but wheat flour and pasta can be subbed in if they are more readily available in your pantry.

Chicken Primavera over Brown Rice Pasta
1 tabelspoon olive oil
1 yellow onion
½ orange (or your favorite color) bell pepper
1 small zucchini, cut into thick pieces
8 spears asparagus, trim the ends &
1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
½ bunch Purple Kale
¾ lb chicken thighs (about 3 thighs) or 2 small breasts cut into cubes
½ cup brown rice flour
2 cups chicken broth, room temperature to warm
1 cup brown rice pasta or whole wheat pasta
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Place a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Drizzle in a splash of the oil. Once it is hot, toss in the yellow onions. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly golden and add in the orange peppers. Sauté for 3-4 more minutes, add in the zucchini and asparagus and continue to sauté for 3-4 more minutes. Once the veggies are mostly done, lower the heat.

Meanwhile, set aside 2 tablespoons of brown rice flour and place the rest on a plate with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Toss and lightly coat each chicken piece in the flour, shaking off the excess. Heat a separate sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once just hot, drizzle in another splash of the olive oil. Toss in the chicken pieces. Sear the pieces on one side for 3-5 minutes until golden on the outside, flip over and cook 3-5 more minutes until cooked through in the center. Add the chicken into the veggie pan and drizzle the remaining oil into the chicken saucepan. Once the oil is hot, sprinkle in the remaining brown rice flour to create a roux. Whisk/stir the flour and oil for about 2-3 minutes to cook out the flour flavor. Next, slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking to incorporate until the sauce is thick and smooth. Add the kale to the veggies, toss lightly and then toss the chicken, veggies and sauce together.

Serve on top of the hot pasta, sprinkle with the pine nuts.



Below is a Creamy Variation from the blog Foodista worth checking out...

Chicken Parmesan Puttanesca

When asked my favorite dish to make I find myself suddenly stumped… as if being asked to name your favorite family member…
and you know who you are... ;)

If my hubby is standing near he will quickly proclaim Chicken Parmesan Puttanesca with such authority that I almost believe him.

Chicken Parmesan has an interesting reputation of being heavy, cheese-laden poultry. While this is hardly a fat-free dish I find myself modifying and adapting it to suit a particular need. Adding Whole Wheat breadcrumbs or even Flax Meal works well, but for Chic Parm (as we affectionately nick named it) I most enjoy serving it at a dinner party, mainly because it is so simple to make ahead.

Puttanesca sauce of course can be made with various degrees of spiciness or briny dipped olives and capers. I actually hold out the anchovies because they are controversial with many dinner guests and the flavor is seldom missed. Puttanesca means “ladies of the night” and there are several translations as to what it really means. For me it simply means easy… and delicious.

For prep ahead, make the chicken, breaded, crispy golden, and store it separate. Next make the sauce as far ahead as you like, allowing the flavors to absorb and embrace each other fully.

Assembly is swift, layering the sauce with the chicken breasts and finishing the baking in the oven. Dinner is served as easy as a casserole and as beautiful as fine-dining.

Buon Appetito!

Chicken Parmesan Puttanesca

For the Chicken:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (the halves), trimmed and ready
pinch of salt and pepper to taste
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
½ cup grated parmesan cheese (no green cans)
2 eggs, beaten






For the Sauce:
1 tsp olive oil
1 large red onion, chopped
1- 24 ounce can Roasted & Crushed Tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic, minced fine
½ to 1 tsp red pepper flakes, to taste
½ cup sliced green and kalamata olives
¼ cup capers
1 tbls balsamic vinegar

Garnish:
½ cup parsley and/or basil, roughly chopped



To Prepare the Chicken:
Place a chicken breast in between two pieces of plastic wrap or slip into a large plastic Ziploc bag. Determine the thinnest part of the chicken- this is as thin as you want to go. Pound evenly with a mallet or a heavy, smooth bottomed frying pan until it is an even thickness. Repeat with the remaining three chicken breasts.

Toss together the panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese on a plate. Place the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl. Unwrap the chicken breast holding the chicken in one hand and dip into the beaten eggs. Shake off the excess egg and gently lay in the pile of crumbs. With your dry, clean hand scoop the crumbs on top and press in gently. Flip over, scoop and press in the crumbs again. Place the crumbed-chicken breasts on a tray.

Next, Make the Sauce:
Warm a saucepan over medium-high heat, drizzle in the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, toss in the onion chunks and sauté lightly until slightly golden, pour in the crushed tomatoes and bring up to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes, then add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Simmer for a few more minutes. To finish, add in half of the olives and half of the capers. Splash in the vinegar. Taste! Adjust seasonings if necessary.

To Sear the Chicken:
Place a skillet (cast-iron is great for this!) over medium-high heat, once it is hot drizzle in 1 tsp olive oil or if you have an oil mister, spray the pan well. Sear the chicken breasts on each side for about 3-5 minutes, until golden. They don’t need to be cooked all the way through, because they will be finished in the oven.

The dish is now ready to put together. Preheat the oven to 375. If desired, cut each breast in half on a diaganol since 1 breast is about 2 servings. Place the breast in the pan and dollop about 1/3 cup of sauce on top. Lay the next piece overlapping slightly. Add another 1/3 cup dollop of sauce. Continue until all of the chicken is laid down. Drizzle any remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle the remaining olives and capers on top. If you have additional parmesan, sprinkle this on top as well. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 15-25 minutes until the chicken is hot and the sauce is steamy.

If making this dish ahead: Chill the sauce and the chicken separately. Repeat the final directions with the ingredients cold. Bake the cold dish for 35-45 minutes.

8 servings

I look forward to hearing about your Chic Parm variations... please post your favorites!