HEALTHY CHICKEN PASTA
HEALTHY CHICKEN PASTA
HEALTHY CHICKEN PASTA

Ingredients
  • 1-2 skinless chicken breasts
  • bones removed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • plus extra for rubbing
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • finely chopped
  • pinch chilli flakes
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 300g/10½oz tomato passata
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 200g/7oz wholewheat penne pasta
  • 200g/7oz broccoli
  • sliced into bite-sized chunks
  • 125g/4½oz baby spinach
  • washed (optional)
  • ½ bunch basil
  • leaves picked (optional)
  • 1-2 tbsp finely grated parmesan (optional)
Directions
  • Carefully slice the breast almost in half horizontally
  • not quite cutting through to the other edge. Keep that edge intact and open up the breast like you are opening up a book. This will make the meat a uniform thickness to ensure a quick and even cooking.
  • Heat a large saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the olive oil to the pan. Once warm
  • add the garlic and chilli flakes and cook for two minutes
  • then stir in the tomato purée and cook for two more minutes. Add the passata to the pan
  • season with pepper
  • stir to mix well and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Leave to simmer gently while you prepare the rest of the dish.
  • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil
  • add the pasta and cook according to the packet instructions. Add the broccoli three minutes before the end of cooking. Drain thoroughly.
  • Meanwhile heat a griddle pan over a high heat until smoking. Rub the chicken with a little oil and season with a tiny bit of salt and pepper then griddle for 3-5 minutes on each side. Set aside to rest for five minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
  • Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the pan with the tomato sauce (if the sauce has thickened too much while simmering then add a little hot water from the pasta). Stir to mix well and then add the cooked and sliced griddled chicken
  • spinach and the picked basil leaves (if using). Season again with plenty of black pepper and allow the spinach and basil to wilt. Sprinkle with parmesan
  • if using
  • and serve.