Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tuscan Chicken


Tuscan Chicken—ha! What a name. Truth be told, this dish doesn’t even have an official name. I just make it, serve it and listen to my husband and children give their official seal of approval (thumbs up); then I eat it myself. For some strange reason, when I post a recipe, I feel like it's official and needs a name.
I made this last week and had it staged up so pretty for a picture. Well, as pretty as I can stage things up. When I turned on my camera, the battery was dead! I hurriedly grabbed my husband's SLR camera, everything looked great through the viewfinder, but for some some strange reason (that camera hates me) the picture wouldn't snap. This picture is a recreation the next day when my battery was fully charged. I nuked a plate up in the microwave.
Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat in a large high-sided skillet.
Slice three boneless, skinless chicken breasts into hearty chunks. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place 1 cup of flour into a shallow dish. Dredge the chicken through the flour and sear on each side in preheated skillet. You will have to do this in batches. Set the seared chicken aside.
Add 3 slices of chopped pancetta (or bacon) to the pan and saute until crisp and golden brown.
While pancetta is browning, cook 3/4 lb. of pasta to al-dente.
Remove pancetta from pan and add 1/4 cup of chopped shallots to pan and saute for about 2 minutes. Carefully add 1/2 cup of white wine to pan and cook 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium, add 4 tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and about 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for approximately one minute, stirring frequently (do not brown).

Whisk in 1-1/2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 milk. Once thoroughly combined, whisk in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan and 1/2 of grated Gouda cheese. Once cheese melts, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary. Bring to a low bubble and add chicken pack to the pan and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Add cooked and drained pasta to chicken and sauce and toss until sauce coats pasta.

Served garnished with pancetta and chopped chives.

49 comments:

Ginger said...

Katherine,

I just love this recipe. Anything with sun dried tomatoes. I think your photos are great!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

I think your photo looks great too! The plate is very beautiful but most of all, this sounds perfectly yummy!!

Selba said...

A nice name for a yummy dish :)

NKP said...

Sounds divine! Great ingredients. ps, following you now!

Mary Bergfeld said...

This is the kind of recipe I love. It's hard to beat the ingredients you used for your pasta.

Cathy said...

This looks great - I love anything that has sun dried tomatoes in it.

Christo Gonzales said...

good job all the way around....

Julie said...

Don't you just hate uncooperative cameras? It looks super yummy!

Debbie said...

Yum...that chicken dish looks delicious. I would love to have that sometime....I love how you create your own recipes...I am a "follower." I have to have a recipe in front of me....then I cook it!!!

gigi said...

I love me some sun dried tomatoes! This looks good so good and your picture is just perfect! (love the plate)

Heather S-G said...

I wouldn't have known it was re-heated if you hadn't told ;) Sounds wonderful...I love anything with the word Tuscan in it.

Dewi said...

Oh I believe you Katherine, sometimes photo doesn't do any justice at all, but I always read the recipe and judge from there. Reading through your recipe, I know that this Tuscan Chicken is worth trying! Sounds delectable!

Katy ~ said...

Oh, I think I need a plate of that right now!

tavolini said...

Even nuked, it still looks mighty tasty ;)

I often consider that the true test of a lasting dish--how well it works the next day...

buffalodick said...

I have a primitive Tuscan cookbook, and what I learned is Northern Italy eats very differently than Southern Italy! Your recipe sounds delicious!

Greg C said...

I could eat that. I know I could. I Like chicken cooked about any way.

Netts Nook said...

Wow Katherine this looks delish. I love you picture. The chicken sounds so flavorful can't wait to give it a try.

Juliana said...

WOW, this looks terrific, I love the taste of white whine in it. Nice pictures!

Alisa- Frugal Foodie said...

Whatever you call it, it sounds delicious!

Lyndas recipe box said...

The photo looks great and the food sounds delish! I love pasta with sun dried tomatoes!

Kristen said...

sounds tasty...I've been cheating my camera battery for days now so I can relate, the photo looks great, you'd never know it was the next day

theUngourmet said...

Oh, don't you just hate it when you are all ready for the shot and the camera is dead like that! Ugh!

This looks like it has such wonderful flavor and it's also beautiful to look at! I love the plate too!

Pearl said...

that chicken looks so moist and juicy!

Marjie said...

I feel a compulsion to name foods when I post them, too. Otherwise, it would just be what the kids say: "You know that meat where...." This looks good, Katherine!

Pam said...

Tuscan chicken is the perfect name for this dish. It looks so creamy and delicous.

P.S. You are welcome at my dinner table any time!

Kathy said...

Yum!!! This looks so good! I LOVE sun dried tomatoes!!!

Cathy said...

Mmmmmmm bacon. I mean, mmmmm pancetta. Okay, maybe not quite the same ring, but this looks incredible either way! I will definitely be bringing this taste of Tuscany to my kitchen soon :-)

La Bella Cooks said...

Katherine, you always have something impressive to serve. Mind if I stop over one evening? I love the tomatoes on top and a sprinkling of the pancetta is just perfect. Being Italian myself, I do love the title ;)

~ Julie ~ said...

Mmmmmmmmm.... my mouth is watering. I can't wait to try this one!

MsTypo said...

This sounds super tasty! Next time Hubby is out of town i think i might try this. Thanks! :D

The Blonde Duck said...

If it looks that good nuked, I can only drool at the orginial...

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Oh, this chicken looks wonderful!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What a great recipe and a terrific photo. Can't go wrong with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. No wonder you get a thumbs up.
Sam

Claudia said...

I love every ingredient in this dish - of course it's wonderful. As is the photo. Okay. Now I'm hungry.

Chris said...

That sounds so good! I LOVE cream dishes. I run, cycle, and work out just so I can eat like this!

Maria said...

Lovely meal!

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

haha, I always feel like my recipes need names too. Tuscan chicken looks great! You had me at dredge in flour and sear. ;)

Veronica said...

Tuscan Chicken sounds like a name that fits...it looks delicious. I actually love leftover, nuked pasta!

Reeni said...

This looks really great, Katherine! Creamy and delicious!

Bunny said...

I'd call it Creamy and Delicious cause that's what it looks like to me!

Anonymous said...

This looks simply delicious!

Anonymous said...

I love sun dried tomatoes! Your photos looks great, I am definitely jotting this recipe down.

Anonymous said...

Love the name and the recipe! The sun-dried tomatoes and pancetta sounds good here.

Anonymous said...

ooh! another great pasta recipe! and with sundried-tomatoes, too!

Marguerite said...

Looks totally cest' bon, cher! I know what you mean about cameras and batteries going dead at the most inconvenient times.

Donna-FFW said...

I am in love with this dish. Sun dried tomatoes always add so much. It truly looks wonderful!

Hornsfan said...

No matter what the name is, you had me at bacon (ok, panchetta) :)

teresa said...

Oh how yummy! All the ingredients look so good!

Melissa said...

I'm going for sushi in an hour and yet for some reason this sounds even better than THAT. Am I actually craving chicken?? Haha. Lovely dish, Katherine, name or no name.