Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and just like everything else this year, it is bound to look a little different than normal. We’ve all been spending much more time at home this year, enjoying more home cooked meals, and honing our skills. Valentine’s Day is a great time to show off your sharpened skills in the kitchen and prepare a gourmet meal at home with Balsamic Vinegar to share with your significant other and loved ones.
St. Valentine was Roman so there’s no better way to honor the day than with a delicious pasta dish. This recipe is simple and full of fantastic fresh flavors that will transport you to a ristorante on the cobblestone streets of Trastevere in Rome all without leaving your home. How’s that for a Valentine’s Day date?
Balsamic Chicken and Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1-2 oz fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp
Primo Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Primo Balsamic Vinegar - 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 11 oz Primo Tri-Colore Wheels Pasta
- 3 cups grape tomatoes halved
Instructions
- 1. For marinade: In a blender combine minced garlic and ⅓ of the basil leaves. Blend until fine. Add in olive oil and blend. Then add in the balsamic and blend again.
- 2. Coat chicken with contents of blender, salt, and pepper then seal in a ziplock bag to marinate for at least 2 hours.
- 3. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
- 4. In a large pan, cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on both sides until browned. Transfer chicken to a baking dish and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Once cooked, cut chicken into ¼ inch strips then return them to the baking dish to keep warm.
- 5. While the chicken is baking, boil a pot of water and cook pasta until it’s al dente (fully cooked but still firm). Drain the pasta.
- 6. Combine the chicken and chicken juices from the baking tray with the pasta.
- 7. Cut remaining basil into thin slices and put them into a large serving bowl along with the grape tomatoes. Stir in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt & pepper to taste.
- 8. Add in pasta and chicken, then toss to combine all the ingredients.
Notes
