Chicken Asparagus Pasta
Why I Love This Recipe
I have no idea where this recipe came from but we've been making it forever. Even when kids say "I don't like asparagus" they like this pasta. I've amended this and made Chicken Broccoli Pasta ; it was good, but not AS good.
Ingredients You'll Need
a bunch of asparagus
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 lemons
olive oil
3 cloves of garlic diced
parmesan cheese
red pepper
2 cups of penne pasta
Directions
Put a pan of water on to boil, drizzle in a little olive oil and the juice of half a lemon
Snap the tough bottoms off the asparagus spears and cut the tips off . Slice the remaining spears into small, (1/2 - 1 inch?) pieces
Rough chop the chicken into bite-ish sized pieces
In a deep frying pan, or a couple-quart saucepan, put 3-4 tblsp of olive oil, the diced garlic, and the juice of that other half of a lemon, plus the juice of a whole lemon. When its hot, add the chopped chicken, lower the heat to low, cover and cook for 5-6 min, stirring occaisionally. Taste the chicken and when it's done, lower heat to simmer to keep warm.
While that's cooking, toss the chopped asparagus into that water you are boiling for the pasta. Cook it for one minute, 60 seconds, that's all, really! Fish it out with a big slotted spoon, put it in a colendar or bowl, and run cold water over it so it stops cooking.
Put the pasta in the same water you just cooked the asparagus.
When the pasta is done, but before you drain it, dip a 2 cup measure in and save out a cup and a half or so of the pasta cooking water.
Now, drain the pasta in a colendar and add to the pan with the chicken. Add the asparagus and toss together over a low heat. If it seems dry, slowly add a little of that reserved pasta water to make it saucier.
Add a generous handful of parmesan cheese as you stir everything together in the pan.
Divide amongst deep bowls or plates, add additional parmesan on top and enjoy! Serve w additional cut lemon, red pepper and salt.
