Tuesday, November 1, 2011

30 minute meal

Tonight I made a quick, delicious meal before heading off to class.  It was so yummy, I packed it up to go and ate it on my way to school!  So easy, I used what I had in the fridge, but you can basically do whatever you want. 

Panko Crusted Chicken with Mushroom, Spinach Alfredo Pasta


Not pictured chicken, spices and oil

First I made my quick and easy alfredo sauce: 
  • 2 T. butter
  • 2 T. flour
  • 2 C. milk (I used whole)
  • salt, pepper, and nutmeg
  • 1/2 c. - 3/4 c. grated parm
The trick to making a thick sauce is the roux.  Roux is butter and flour mixed together.  This is what makes it thick.  The trick to a good roux is melting the butter and putting the stove on  high.  Add your flour real quick and whisk furiously for a minute.  You don't want to form little balls, but you don't want it to burn.  By keeping it on high and whisking super fast it wont form a ball.  The reason you whisk for a good minute is to cook the flour taste out. 

Slowly add your milk and keep on whisking.  Let it come to a simmer, whisk occasionally.  Add your salt and pepper and parm cheese.  Keep whisking occasionally.  You know your sauce is thick when it coats the back of a spoon.  Let it sit on warm on the stove, I also grate some fresh nutmeg in my alfredo sauce, gives it a nice taste.  If you don't have any don't worry.
So with the sauce done I sauteed some mushrooms and thinly sliced mushrooms.  I was in the mood for garlic so I used like 6 cloves.  Add some oil to the pan and then add the garlic.  According to Mario barteli you want the garlic to be a nice golden color, not too dark.  So keep an eye on it.  Add your mushrooms and saute for a few minutes.  Do you know how to clean a mushroom?  Just take a wet paper towel and wipe them off.  That is all.  You don't want to submerge them in water.

When that is done put it aside.  Now I took three chicken breasts and cut them into strips.  Threw some salt and pepper on them and dipped them in oil.  Then I mixed panko bread crumbs with lots of Italian herbs and some parm cheese.  I did not measure this, but you want to use quite a bit to get a good flavor.  Mix those together and dredge your chicken in it.  Heat some oil in a nice big pan and add chicken.  Turn once after there is a nice golden color.  Because they are strips they don't take long.  I believe I did 4-5 minutes each side.  Don't over crowd your pan.  I did mine in two batches. 

So while I was doing all this I made some shell pasta. (don't forget to salt your pasta)  Once it was done I added the sauce, mushrooms, garlic and fresh spinach.  I added some pasta water to help the spinach wilt some.

 Mix it all together and plate some up!  I threw some yummy chicken on top and chowed down.  It smelled so good!  The chicken was nice and crunch and the pasta was yummy.

And that is my 30 minute homemade meal! 

*Allie

1 comment:

  1. I'm so hungry now. I have never made alfredo sauce and i think i'll give it a try soon. Chicken looks so yummy and crunchy!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear what you have to say!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...