Thyme for Cooking

Seasonal Weekly Menus & Shopping Lists

Healthy Food          Fresh Ingredients          Simple Recipes

 Home  Seasonal Menus  Recipe Index Cooking Tips  Blog

Menu Plan for Summer I: Week 11, Day 4

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Three Bean Salad

Cooking time: 30 minutes for menu        Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

     Another pasta Caesar salad, this one with spicy chicken strips.  You can do them in a nonstick skillet or use a grill pan on the barbecue. A quick and easy dinner for midweek! Besides... I still have some anchovy paste to use...

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Total time: 30 minutes
    I know the classic Caesar Salad is made with Romaine lettuce, and dressed with a raw egg, olive oil and lots of garlic.  This dressing lightens it, makes it a bit healthier, but still keeps the flavor of the original Caesar.  Plus, it makes a great main course for summer!

 Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/4 cups (4.2oz, 125gr) pasta - fusilli, shells, penne
• 1 tbs good olive oil
• Caesar dressing:
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tbs tarragon white wine vinegar
• 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 anchovy filets, mashed or 1 tsp anchovy paste (optional)
• 1/2 cup (4oz, 120gr) Greek or plain yogurt
• 2 tbs good olive oil
• 1 tbs snipped fresh chives
• 3 tbs Parmesan

 Instructions:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions. 
• When done, drain, put into a large serving bowl and toss with 1 tbs olive oil.
• Mix chili powder, Worcestershire and garlic. 
• Slice chicken breasts into bite size pieces or strips and toss with chili powder mixture. 
• Cook on barbecue grill in a pan or sauté in nonstick skillet on stove.  Either way cooking time is 5 - 7 minutes over medium-high heat.
• Caesar Dressing:
• Mince garlic and put in small bowl. 
• Add mustard, lemon, Worcestershire, vinegar and yogurt (and anchovies, if using) and mix well with wire whisk. 
• Slowly drizzle in olive oil whisking constantly. 
• Whisk in Parmesan and chives. 
• To finish:
• Add cooked chicken and 2/3 dressing to pasta and toss to mix.  (A tongs works great for this!)
• After mixing taste and add rest of dressing if you like.  Serve.

Three Bean Salad

Total time: 1 minute

 Ingredients:

• leftover salad

 Instructions:

• Remove from fridge and stir

 

Cooking schedule: 30 minutes Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives, whisk, small bowl, pot for pasta, colander, large nonstick skillet or barbecue grill and grill pan Put water on high heat for pasta Turn on barbecue grill if using Cut chicken into strips or pieces Mix chili powder, Worcestershire for chicken Add chicken, toss will to coat Remove bean salad from fridge, stir, set aside

Mince garlic Start to cook pasta Make dressing Cook chicken Remove chicken, set aside      Pause while pasta finishes Drain pasta Toss pasta with oil Add chicken, dressing to pasta, toss Taste, adjust salad Serve

Share this:

----------------------

Get 7 Dinner Menus, Recipes, Shopping List each Thursday by e-mail: Subscribe

Need help planning dinner?  Do you have a garden?   A CSA for fresh veggies?

Try our Weekly Menu Plans: Healthy Gourmet Dinners;  Quick, Easy Recipes.
Each week carefully planned to reduce waste and use a lots of fresh, seasonal veggies. 

By Katie Zeller

© All text and images are copyright © 2010 - 2024 Thyme for Cooking.  All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated