Grilled Chicken with Arugula Pesto and Caesar Spaghetti

Recipe Rating:	2 Ratings5
Categories:	Chicken, Pasta, Italian, Other Main Dishes, Quick & Easy
Serves:	4
Prep Time:	25 Min
Cook Time:	25 Min

Ingredients

1 lb	spaghetti
1/4 c	extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
4 large	cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
	2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce, eyeball the amount
2 medium	heads escarole, washed
1	lemon, halved
	freshly ground black pepper
	salt
1/4 tsp	freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
2 large	egg yolks
1 c	grated pecorino romano
6	anchovy fillets, drained ***optional
INGREDIENTS FOR GRILLED CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA PESTO
1/4 c	sliced or slivered almonds or shelled pistachios
1 c	packed fresh arugula leaves
1/2	lemon, juiced
1 clove	garlic, grated or minced
	salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 c	extra-virgin olive oil
4 small	pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast (tenders removed)
	***time saver: buy ready-made pesto and just add the arugula and almonds

Pinched by amsmith_80, and 94 more.

Macrayla Evans

Lightly Salted

Ceres, CA (pop. 45,417)

phalanmac

Member Since Mar 2011

Macrayla's Notes:

Watched Rachael Ray make this one day on her show. It is pretty tasty!

Directions

For the Ceasar Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, salt the water. Add the pasta and cook until just shy of al dente, according to package directions.

Heads up: you need to reserve about 1 cup of the starchy cooking water just before draining.

If using the anchovies: While the pasta is cooking, put a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the anchovies and cook until they've melted into the oil, about 2 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, stir 1 minute then add in Worcestershire.

Shred the escarole and add several handfuls at a time, wilting the greens in the garlic oil.

Dress the greens with lots of pepper and a little nutmeg, then squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the pan.

Add the reserved starchy cooking water to the eggs in a small bowl and beat together to temper them.

Turn off the heat and add the drained pasta and the egg mixture.

Stir to combine.

Add half of the cheese and toss vigorously for 1 minute.

Dress the pasta with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and transfer to a serving dish. Top with Grilled Chicken with Arugula Pesto. Pass the remaining cheese at the table.

For the Grilled Chicken with Arugula Pesto, heat a grill pan to high

To make your own pesto, toast the nuts lightly in small skillet over low heat, then add them to a food processor.

Add the arugula, basil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse to combine.

With the processor on, stream in the extra-virgin olive oil to form a thick pesto.

Or if using the ready- made pesto, just add the arugula and almonds to the pesto in a food processor and pulse to combine.

Lightly pound out the chicken, then rub all sides with the pesto. Spray the grill pan with cooking spray or rub with a little oil and grill the chicken 2 to 4 minutes on each side.

Serve sliced on top of Caesar Spaghetti or, pile it onto ciabatta bread with sliced tomatoes and mozzarella for a sandwich.