My pantry looks a lot different than it did a couple of years ago. What is basic today would have been nowhere near my pantry yesterday. So when this week’s IHCC theme – PANTRY MAGIC!! – showed up I knew I had lots more choices of good things than I would have!! Now I keep more herbs and spices, several different types of flour (there are more than AP and Self-rising!), capers, BLACK RICE. And I grow more of my own veggies, too. Like Pumpkins. I decided to use some of those new goodies to make
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Pasta with Shredded Chicken and Fried Basil
Like most of Donna’s dishes this was very easy to put together. Cook pastas. Cook and shred some chicken. Toss with some basil – done! Easy AND tasty!!
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400g (14 oz) fresh pasta*
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 chicken breast fillets, halved
2 tablespoons olive oil, extra
1/4 cup basil leaves
125g (4 oz) fetta cheese, chopped
cracked black pepper
Place the pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water and cook for 4-5 minutes or until al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked through. Remove, cool slightly and shred the chicken.
Add the extra oil to the pan and heat. Add the basil and cook for 2 minutes or until crisp.
To serve, drain the pasta and toss with the chicken, fetta and pepper. Pour over the oil and fried basil and serve with lemon wedges. Serves 4.
I followed Donna’s recipe except I added some salt to the chicken before cooking it and I added some extra olive oil to the pasta after tossing everything together. It seemed a little dry.
This recipe came from Donna’s new food fast (page 30).
Check out I Heart Cooking Club for this week’s dishes from the other cooks/bakers of IHCC!
October 12, 2013 at 8:20 AM
My pantry is always a mess. I guess I am a horder. This dish looks so simple ans delicious. Thanks for posting it. Love basil and pasta!!!!
October 12, 2013 at 4:56 PM
looks great, gotta try it !!
October 13, 2013 at 7:12 PM
This looks great…marking it to try. I agree, since I’ve been cooking/baking with you these past several years, my pantry looks a lot different!! But in a good way. Good choice.
October 13, 2013 at 7:41 PM
This is one of the first Donna Hay recipes that I pinned to make. With such basic but delicious ingredients it simply can’t be ignored. I bet this was incredibly comfort and delicious. Can’t wait to make it for myself 🙂
October 13, 2013 at 11:50 PM
New Food Fast has so many great recipes in it and you can’t beat something as fast and tasty as this recipe looks (or anything with feta cheese tossed in!)
😉
October 14, 2013 at 1:22 AM
Love the simplicity of this dish – I always pasta in my pantry, feta in my fridge, and pesto in my freezer for those times when basil is out of season, so this definitely rates as a dish I could manage to put together in a hurry with ingredients on hand. Thanks for sharing it.
October 14, 2013 at 3:31 AM
What a wonderful bright & fresh pasta dish! Just love how so many of Donna’s recipes can be whipped up in a flash 🙂
October 14, 2013 at 6:57 AM
This recipe is exactly why I love Donna Hay so much!
October 14, 2013 at 8:25 AM
That does look easy and tasty, and perfect for when you need something quick.
October 14, 2013 at 11:14 AM
‘This looks good, easy and simple. Would be perfect for my kids’ after school meal. This goes on my list of to-do! Thanks for sharing!
October 15, 2013 at 9:09 AM
Chicken, basil and pasta, topped with feta. I can almost smell the food and I am hungry. Going to make this right away 🙂
October 19, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Oh I so want that left over ramekin of custard. What a special little treat.