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Chicken Pasta with Fried Capers

Posted by Billie-Jean in Blogalicious Thoughts, Featured Articles on Mar 24th, 2010 | one response

This recipe is a favorite that I have been making for years. The recipe is so simple but the key is FRESH. I love that word actually. Everything put in the recipe can be as fresh and flavorful as you decide to make it. Fresh basil, fresh lemon zest and juice, organic chicken, fresh parmesan, garlic, a really decadent olive oil and some nice sea salt to finish it off. The only thing you buy in a jar are those yummy capers and when they hit the pan, the smell of the flavors is heavenly. The meal itself is light and flavorful. I thought this time I would enhance the dish by making the pasta myself. I made linguine because it is the only choice I have on my pasta maker besides angel hair. On an average day when I am not making pasta, I will make it with spaghettini noodles. Lemons and Basil and Spaghettini oh my! I also bought a nice loaf of ciabatta bread and made a nice clean salad. When I say nice clean salad I mean, nice salad greens, any vegetable and a light coating of olive oil and sea salt. You taste all the flavors of the actual vegetation as opposed to the dressing. This is my favorite way to eat salad. It does not have to be fancy to get the best results. So here is the recipe for this delightful meal…a family favorite I might add.

Chicken Pasta with Fried Capers (print recipe)

1 lbs boneless chicken
a little less than 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil;
3 Tbs Capers or more if you are in the mood
2 Tsp chili flakes (or less if you don’t want it too spicy)
3 cloves of fresh crushed garlic
3 Tbs fresh lemon zest
Juice from 1/2 lemon

600 grams of fresh spaghettini pasta (easy pasta recipe)
Fresh shaved parm
fresh pepper and salt

Fresh basil

Fry chicken a pre-bought roaster will work too-in which case, just add it the pan after the garlic) and shred it with your hands..no choppy.
Pour out chicky fat (leave some chunks) from pan and add olive oil, capers, chili flakes, garlic and cook 3-5 min on medium heat.

Add chicken plus lemon zest and then squeeze in juice from lemon for good measure…or more if you like.

Cook spaghettini and then mix everything together and finish with basil, fresh parm and pepper and sea salt.

adapted from Adam Woodall

It is one of my kids favorites. Dont mess around with it.

This serves 2, so double it or triple it depending on crowd.

Easy Pasta Dough

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups bread flour
3 large eggs-organic is best!
semolina flour for dusting

Throw it all in the food processor and process until it adheres and forms one or two balls (add more flour if it’s too sticky; dribble in a little water if it fails to come together). Knead on a floured board for a minute or two until the dough is silky and somewhat elastic (it’ll still be rather stiffish). Wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator for an hour. Remove, divide in two and return the unused portion, wrapped back in the plastic, to the refrigerator.

Flatten the dough with your hands and run through the lowest setting of your pasta machine. Repeat. Move up to #2 setting and run through twice. Then, run the dough through each of the settings–taking care to dust generously with semolina–until you get to the second to last one. Cut your enormously long pasta noodle in half, and again, dust very generously with semolina. Attach your pasta cutter to the other side of the machine, and carefully roll the dough strip through, separating each of the strands. Hang on dowels or, like me, on a broom stick covered with plastic wrap. Repeat with the other dough strips and then repeat the entire process with the other ball of dough taking it easy in the fridge. You should have enough for two adults(2 very generous portions. I would double this recipe for a family of 4. My daughter can eat alot of home made pasta. You can either use the pasta right away (it should only take a minute or two to cook up in boiling, salted water [use a tablespoon or two of salt]) or leave it to dry, about three hours-24 hours (now the pasta will take about five minutes to cook).