Menu Plan for Spring I: Week 9, Day 4

Links:

Weekly Menu

Shopping List

Daily Recipes:

 Day 1
 Day 2
 Day 3
 Day 4
 Day 5
 Day 6

Warm Spring Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

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

     I have always disagreed with most 'Pasta Primavera' recipes, as they are meant to celebrate spring but insist on using summer vegetables: tomatoes and peppers.  This is my version, using only spring vegetables. If you can't get fava beans or edamame, just leave out.

Warm Chicken Pasta Salad with Spring Vegetables   

Total time: 30 minutes  
   I have always disagreed with most 'Pasta Primavera' as they are meant to celebrate spring but insist on using summer vegetables: tomatoes and peppers.  This is my version, using only spring vegetables.

Chicken Pasta Salad with Spring Vegetables Ingredients:

 Instructions

Notes: 

Roll cut:  Cut the end off at an angle, roll 1/4 turn and slice at the same angle, roll 1/4 and slice, etc.  This gives you interesting looking pieces with lots of surface.  It's normally used on round vegetables: carrots, asparagus, etc.

Peel fava beans:  They peel like peas: break open the pod and take the beans out.  Don't bother with any really tiny ones.  After blanching they will have a whitish outer shell.  Just squeeze lightly and the inner, bright green bean will pop out.  It may split in half... that's okay.

Cooking schedule: 30 minutes
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
scissors, 2 small bowls, whisk, large skillet, pot for
pasta, colander, strainer, bowl, medium saucepan,
barbecue grill if using, tools or medium skillet,
dish for marinating

Put water on high heat for pasta
Turn on/light barbecue grill if using
Make marinade, pour over chicken
Put water on high heat for vegetables
Shell fava beans
Trim, roll cut asparagus
Trim pea pods
Snip herbs
Trim, slice green garlic or onion
Blanch asparagus
Prepare cold water
Remove asparagus (slotted spoon or small strainer)

Put asparagus in cold water
Blanch pea pods
Remove asparagus from cold water, drain
Refresh cold water
Remove pea pods, put in cold water
Blanch fava beans
Remove pea pods, drain, refresh cold water
Remove fava beans, put in cold water
Start to cook chicken
Start to cook pasta
Peel fava beans
Turn chicken
Make vinaigrette
Sauté green garlic/onion, asparagus, snow peas
Drain pasta
Remove chicken, slice
Add pasta to skillet, heat
Put everything into a big bowl
Add vinaigrette, toss well , serve

Share this:

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

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