Friday 4 February 2011

A quick Friday night meal

I had a whole other post planned for today, but the day was super crazy, as the rest of the week. So tonight, I felt like a good meal, but not like cooking one. Hence, I took a look at what was in the fridge and freezer and made something out of it, based on a recipe I have used before. I had cooked, frozen chicken and a whole baked butternut. I also had some great quality pasta - this is essential as ordinary hard pasta will not give the same result.

Ingredients:
Cooked white chicken meat, cut into pieces
Butternut - when raw, bake for 30 minutes salted and with black pepper. If cooked, grill with salt and black pepper until brown.
Fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips.
Garlic - about two cloves. Crushed.
100g butter. Margerine will nto work.
About two circles of feta cheese.
Fresh or good quality pasta.

Method:
Place butternut in the oven and roast / grill until brown edges show.
When almost done, put water on and cook pasta until el dente.
At the same time, heat butter in a small pan and add garlic until it makes bubbles.
Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes.
When the past is done, drain and add the butter mixture. Toss with the basil, butternut and feta cheese.
Season with salt and pepper and enjoy with a light white wine.

It was truly great and I will definitely make it again. The butternut and pumpkin provides a great sweet and salty taste contrast enhanced with the great taste of basil - my favorite herb. It is super quick and easy. I think some pine nuts will be a great addition, but I had none left.

6 comments:

  1. Yum! Except for the butternut, I think I have all the ingredients to make this dinner tonight. I do agree about the butter. We don't even buy margarine. Haven't had it in the house ever. I don't think it's really even food. I will eat anything with basil. Basil makes the world a better place. Bon Appetit!

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  2. Yummy.

    This is very similar to my butternut/chicken pasta dish. Think i may make it tonight.

    Yum yum yum. Pine nuts are definately a key ingreadient!

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  3. Yummy!!!
    Next time, try it with baby spinach instead of the butternut... just as yum!

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  4. I'm going to make this when butternut comes back into season here......it sounds divine....xx

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  5. Made this last night. Added giant mushrooms and the pine nuts. Dean made fresh pasta and it was divine. Used the sundried tom feta from woolies - yum yum yum!

    thanks for the inspiration xxx

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  6. Yum! Love seeing recipies and have been meaning to do about 1 a week on mine, but that hasn't happened yet:) Thanks for the idea. I just got butternut squash today and have chicken I had cooked in the crockpot left over. Too funny! Might have to try this. Just wanted to stop by and say hello!

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