CHICKEN AND PESTO RIGATONI

CHICKEN AND PESTO RIGATONI

(Serves 4)

500 g               rigatoni pasta

4                      chicken fillets, cut into strips

30 ml               olive oil

2 cloves           garlic, crushed

1                      red pepper – cut into thin strips

1                      yellow pepper – cut into thin strips

1                      red onion – sliced

125 ml             pitted black olives, cut in half

80 ml               basil pesto

80 ml               cream

                        shavings of Parmesan cheese

                        fresh basil

                        salt and black pepper for seasoning

METHOD:

• Add the pasta to a pot of boiling, salted water and cook until it is al dente. Drain and return the cooked pasta to the saucepan.  Add 10 ml of olive oil, toss well and keep warm.
• Sauté the onion in half of the leftover olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat– add the pepper strips, garlic and olives and cook for a few minutes – season with salt and pepper and remove from the frying pan.
• Turn up the heat, add the rest of the olive oil and add the chicken strips. Do not stir immediately – wait for the chicken to start frying and brown on the one side before stirring. Season with salt and pepper and cook on both sides
• Return the cooked onion and pepper mixture to the frying pan, add the pesto and the cream and mix gently.
• Add the pasta and toss well to mix
• Spoon into 4 serving plates and top with parmesan shaving and fresh basil
• Serve immediately