We LOVE this dish. Fresh pasta with pesto is just amazing. First I make the best fresh pasta, and normally let is dry out a bit on the day by making it early so it has the whole day to rest. Then, i boil the chicken breast for about 5 minutes before I take it out and slice it. It goes back in the boiling water to get rid of all the pink. I toast pine nuts, and I am ready to go. I make sure the water for the pasta is salty, and bring it to a boil. I drop the pasta, and while its coming back to temperature, I begin to slowly heat the pesto. To make sure it does not stick to the pan, I drop a ladil of pasta water in the pan and mix together along with a healthy pinch of red pepper flakes. As it comes to temperature, I test the pasta. It needs to be el dente, and because it’s fresh, it takes no more than about a minute or two at a boil. I move the pasta from the water to the pesto pan and begin to mix it all. I turn it up a little so make sure it continues to cook and come together. I dish the pasta leaving sauce in the pan and drop the chicken into the pan to pick up the sauce, then I dish the chicken. I finish with pine nuts and parm. It’s delicious!
Ingredients:
- Fresh pata
- Basel Pesto (store bought or home made)
- Sliced cooked chicken
- Red pepper flakes
- Parmesan
My Life: A Memoir 