Chicken and Pasta With Asparagus and Lemon

Name: Chicken and Pasta With Asparagus and Lemon
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 lb chicken breast, boneless, skinless, trimmed and sliced thin; 1 leek, white and light green parts only, minced and rinsed thoroughly; salt; 6 medium garlic cloves, minced and pressed through a garlic press; 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, minced; 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, unbleached; 2 cups low sodium chicken broth; 1 cup dry white wine; 1 lb asparagus, about 1 bunch, tough ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch lengths; 8 ounces penne pasta (about 2 1/2 cups) or 8 ounces ziti pasta (about 2 1/2 cups); 2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup); 2 teaspoons lemon zest, grated; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, shredded; ground black pepper

Submitted by Chef mariajane

"Be sure and use low-sodium broth in this recipe; regular broth will make the dish extremely salty. This recipe comes from the cookbook, The Best of Chicken Recipes."

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Ready In:: 40mins
Ingredients:: 16
Serves:: 4

ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 lb chicken breast, boneless, skinless, trimmed and sliced thin
1 leek, white and light green parts only, minced and rinsed thoroughly
salt
6 medium garlic cloves, minced and pressed through a garlic press
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, minced
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup dry white wine
1 lb asparagus, about 1 bunch, tough ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch lengths
8 ounces penne pasta (about 2 1/2 cups) or 8 ounces ziti pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
2 teaspoons lemon zest, grated
¹⁄₄ cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, shredded
ground black pepper

directions

Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot for the pasta.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoons of the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to brown. Add the chicken, break up any clumps, and cook without stirring until beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Stir the chicken and continue to cook until almost cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer the chicken to a medium bowl, cover with foil, and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoons more of the butter, the leek, and 1/4 teaspoons salt to the skillet and cook over high heat until browned on the edges, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme and flour and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and wine, bring to a simmer, and cook over medium heat until the sauce has thickened slightly and reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, stir 1 tablespoons salt and the asparagus into the boiling water and cook, stirring often, until the asparagus are crisp-tender, about 1 minute (do not overcook). Using a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
Return the water to a boil, stir in the pasta, and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Return the chicken to the skillet along with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the Parmesan, lemon zest and lemon juice. Continue to simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute.
Pour the chicken and sauce mixture over the pasta and add the asparagus and basil. Toss gently to combine, adding the reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve, passing additional Parmesan separately.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Chef mariajane

I am a 56 year old Gramma that, for the first time in my life, has purchase myself a computer, and I didn't know what i was missing!! I have a husband tha I adore, and 4 grandchildren that of course surpass all others - lol - I am disabled, and am an at home person, so I have a lot of time on my hands, to play with my recipes, and I am enjoying every bit of it - My husband will eat anything that I cook, so I have carte blanche as far as that goes, so I have a great time trying out new recipes. Paula Deen has published some of my favorite cookbooks, her recipes are easy and quick to do. Her sweets are fantastics, especially her pound cakes, Yummm I guess the dish that I am famous for is my Christmas ham - my family all comes home for Christmas, and if i don't have my ham they are dissapointed, and my grandson wants the pistachio squares!!! so I guess that is the dishes that I'm famous for.

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