Wednesday, 24 November 2021

Old School Summer Chicken Pasta Salad

 Hi Everyone


I call this pasta old school because its one of the earliest recipes I created when roaming around in the old motorhome to dog shows. Those recipes (like most of mine) were very much a case of combining what was to hand. I actually made it again yesterday and was so nostalgic. So thought it was time to add it to my blog. 

Ingredients

A smoked chicken breast sliced or chopped up (preference is yours)

250-400gm of small pasta - spiral, penne or shell Ive used all of them to good effect in this dish

1 tablespoon of masterfoods moroccan spice mix

1/2 a cup of good quality mayo - I've used best foods or japanese mayo for example

1/4 cup of aioli (more if you like the flavour more then mayo

1 tablespoon of basil pesto (fresh is best but Ive used store bought no problem)

1 red capsicum diced (I often use the store bought charred red capsicums if I don't have fresh)

2 spring onions finely sliced

1 red onion finely sliced

1 avocado sliced or diced

a handful of cherry tomatos halved 

Garnish

couple fo tablespoons of pinenuts roasted

1/2 cup op chopped parsley or rocket leaves 

How to:

If you don't have smoked chicken you can bake a couple of chicken breasts coated in three tablespoons of the spice mix at 180 deg C for 25 minutes or until cooked.  Let cool slightly and the slice or chop. 

Cook the pasta until el dente I then empty into a colander and run the pasta under cold water to cool it down. Drain.

Combine all the veges ingredients in a bowl. Note I use whatever I have around (crisp raw small florets of broccoli are nice in this salad too) but I do think the capsicums and spring onions are essential. 

In a separate bowl combine the spice, mayo, aioli and pesto. You can add the juice of half a lemon if you prefer a thinner dressing. 

Combine all together and toss gently to combine. Taste and season as needed. I usually add the rocket in with the toss if using. If just parsley I garnish on top with the pinenuts at the end.

Enjoy with smoked meats or on its own :)


                                        






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