Cookbook-200623-Final-Reduced | Page 40

MAIN DISH / CHICKEN Pasta alle Opzioni (pasta al pesto e pomodoro ~ pollo e verdura opzionali) Contributed by Mary Catanese Postdoctoral Fellow Jacob Hooker's group Servings 8-12 This dish is so simple to prepare and is delicious both hot or cold. Great for gatherings and easily adjusted for your "audience"! You can make everything from scratch but if you pick up the ingredients at the store and toss it all together, it will feel like a small wonder for such little effort and time! Ingredients 1 pound of your favorite pasta 2-3 cups of your favorite tomato sauce (from a jar or your favorite recipe) 1 container of your favorite pesto (a favorite brand or your favorite recipe) Opzioni: your favorite type of chicken (for example, roasted, seared or milanese) and/or la verdura (e.g., mushrooms, peppers and/or onions sautéed in garlic), parmesan or mozzarella cheese Pasta alle opzioni allows you to create your own favorite version – you can also try vegan or with eggplant or zucchini ... and you can always skip the carbs! Method 1. Prepare pasta, drain, add a touch of butter or extra virgin olive oil. 2. Heat tomato sauce and pesto together ... serve over pasta. 3. For opzioni, toss in pollo e la verdura: I suggest to prepare chicken first (for example, chicken tenders or roasted chicken), if you add la verdura, I suggest sautéed peppers and onions and/or mushrooms (could simply use a jar of roasted red peppers), then add chicken and stir, then add the tomato sauce and pesto and serve over pasta. You can also toss it all together and heat on low for a little while and serve. 4. Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan ... and maybe prepare some garlic bread! 5. You can also toss everything together and bake with mozzarella until melted (at ~350)... Buon appetito! Dreamt up one day for a gathering and to my surprise just about everyone loved it... doubling the recipe is more than enough for parties and gatherings of over ten people! Very nice to share! 40