Rasta Pasta
Rasta Pasta is a fusion of flavors from Jamaica and Italy. A creamy sauce is stirred into jerk seasoned chicken, sauteed vegetables, pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Servings: 6 Servings
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning
For the Pasta:
- 8 ounces dry penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 3 bell peppers red, green, yellow, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 green onions sliced on diagonal
Instructions
For the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel then brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with jerk seasoning.
- In a skillet set over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the chicken to a golden brown, about 5-8 minutes per side. They should reach an internal temperature of 157°F to 160°F. Transfer the chicken to a plate. When they cool, slice into 1-inch strips. Reserve until needed.
For the Pasta:
- Whle the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook per the package directions.
- Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and reserve. Drain the pasta, return to the empty pot, toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and keep warm until needed.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and sauté the onion and bell peppers until slightly softened about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle the vegetables with the jerk seasoning, tossing to combine.
- Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream and 1/4 cup of the pasta water then bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, cooked pasta and the chicken. Toss well to coat the pasta and chicken. Add additional pasta water if needed. Serve immediately garnished with the sliced green onions.
Notes
- Chicken thighs can be substituted for the chicken breasts.
- Coconut cream can be substituted for the heavy cream
- Make this a seafood dish by using shrimp, scallops or small portions of firm fish.
- For a more intense flavor, Increase the Jamaican Jerk seasoning
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 697mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g
