Garlic Pasta Chicken Salad
Why I Love This Recipe
I found this online a while back and make it for family get togethers. It changes a little each time we make it and throw whatever extra goodies we have in the fridge in the salad!
Ingredients You'll Need
6 heads garlic
3/4 cup olive oil
4 sprigs rosemary -- optional
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves -- or 1 tsp. dried
8 ounces corkscrew pasta -- cooked and drained
2 cups chicken -- cooked, cut in strip
1/2 cup green onion -- sliced
1/2 cup parmesan cheese -- freshly grated
2/3 cup walnuts -- chopped, optional
salt and pepper to taste
lettuce leaves
Directions
1. Separate cloves of garlic and drop into boiling water for 1 minute.
2. Drain and peel. Place peeled cloves in small saucepan with oil and optional rosemary sprigs. Cook gently, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until garlic is tender.
3. Discard rosemary sprigs and puree garlic with 1/2 cup of the olive oil, basil, and the
rosemary leaves.
4. Place pasta in large bowl and add garlic puree, chicken, onion, parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Add more olive oil if needed to moisten salad.
5. Let salad sit for 1 hour a room temperature (provided its not a hot room that will invite bacteria to go nuts!) or refrigerate, returning mixture to room temperature before serving.
6. Toast walnuts in 375-degree oven for 10 minutes. Stir into the salad and serve over a mix of crisp, chilled lettuces.
