Saturday, April 4, 2009

Chicken Penne with Pink Sauce Recipe

When I was working in an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles in college, I learned to make pink sauce for pasta. So this is my recipe creation for Chicken Penne with Pink Sauce Pasta that I want to share with you. (I still haven’t decided if red or white wine goes better with this dish. Maybe you should try both types and let me know :) 

I love to cook this at home while wearing my apple red apron with some music going in the background. Currently my favorite cook book in my kitchen is Everyday Italian by Giada De Laurentis.

INGREDIENTS:

1 package penne pasta  (hint: you can also use wheat pasta)
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 package of button mushrooms (chopped)
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 lemons
1 cup of sun dried tomatoes
1 glove of garlic
1 chopped onion
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of ground pepper
1 jar of marinara sauce
½ cup of Alfredo sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt to the water for taste. Cook pasta for about 10 minutes or until al dente. While pasta is cooking squeeze lemon juice over chicken breast halves and then cut chicken into small pieces. Pour olive oil into the saute pan. Now add your chicken to the saute pan over medium to high heat for about 10 minutes. While chicken is cooking sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. After about 3 minutes add mushrooms to the same sauté pan. (Watch the chicken carefully and stir frequently.) Then add garlic and onion to the pan. Lastly add sun dried tomatoes to the pan and stir all of the ingredients together. Remove from heat. (Cut the center of the chicken to make sure it’s not pink inside.) 

After pasta is cooked, place in a strainer and then put penne pasta back into the medium saucepan. Add all of the ingredients (chicken, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes etc.) into the sauce pan with the pasta. In a separate bowl add the marinara and Alfredo sauce together. Your sauce should turn pink in color. Yummy. Now pour yourself a glass of wine for all of your hard work. I suggest a Pinot Grigio.

Your almost done. Over low heat pour the sauce into your medium saucepan and mix everything together. (Ingredients, pasta and sauce.) And voila you are all done. This makes 4 servings so I save some and have leftovers. What side dish would you make with this recipe? Tell me what's your favorite cookbook?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I do love a good Italian dinner! I used to have an excellent recipe for a vodka/tomato sauce - it was lovely over penne as well. I am going to give your recipe a go and will let you know - sounds d'lish!

Anonymous said...

Oops...I forgot to mention my favorite cookbook - I was too wrapped up in thinking about food! Currently, my fave cookbook is The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook by Tosca Reno. I also use a lot of Weight Watcher cookbooks. I tend to eat low fat, high fibre and these books have good options for that.

As for a side for your recipe...can't go wrong with asparagus!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'm definately going to try this. It looks easy and delicious.

Laura said...

Audrey: Asparagus would be a great side dish. Yum. Your cookbooks are great suggestions. I too am eating healthier and would probably need to reduce this portion size and sauce. Thank you for your comment and let me know how you like the dish.

Laura said...

lisa: Easy and delicious are my middle names...oh wait..that can't be right :) Bon Appetit!

Char said...

this sounds sooooo yummy

Laura said...

Char: Thanx luvy. It's so good and great comfort food. Have a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

I can't cook and so rarely attempt the task but that looks kind of tasty. I might just try. I'll let you know if the fire department has to be called.

Fancy Schmancy said...

It sounds delicious. However, I still have to try your Brazilian Shrimp dish first!

Laura said...

Just Playing Pretend: Go on you can do it! Just leave the windows open and get your fire extinguisher ready :)

Fancy Schmancy: Both yummy and very different. I would try the Brazilian Shrimp Dish first as the flavors are amazing. Thanx for stopping by!

Fifi Flowers said...

YUM... you are more than welcome to bring your red apron and cook in my kitchen anytime!
ENJOY your Sunday!
Fifi

Laura said...

Thans Ms. Fifi. Just name the time and the place :)

Couture Carrie said...

Yum!

Did your tag today, btw - thanks, it was super fun!

xoxox,
CC

Janine / Being Brazen said...

YUMMY!

Laura said...

Couture Carrie: Loved your answers and this dish is so good.

Being Brazen: I know right, yummy!

Mike K said...

where can i find turkey pasta?

Laura said...

Mike: You can make it either with turkey or chicken or with wheat pasta. lol. Thanx for your comment.

LORENZO said...

I love Ping sauce. I spell it that way as a joke, local diner by us has had a typo on the menu for years! Half the time you order it, they get it wrong and bring the red sauce. Maybe I'll have to follow your recipe and cook it myself. All the best.

Laura said...

Lorenzo: I should change the name to my recipe to Chicken Penne with Ping Sauce. If you try it let me know :)