Penne in Almond Sauce

I like all of Giada De Laurentiis' recipes. And now I want to post one of her easy and simple recipes to make Penne in Almond Sauce. It's so tasty!


Ingredients
1 pound penne pasta, 2 cups (9 ounces) slivered almonds, 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves of garlic (peeled and smashed), 2 grilled chicken breasts (skinned and boned), 1 cup frozen petite peas (can be replaced with French Beans cut it into small pieces), 3/4 cup heavy cream, 1 large lemon (zested; I used 1 table spoon of lemon juice too), 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, pinch of salt and pepper. 

Method
1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and grill on a grill pan. After it is cooked, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups). Set a side.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over a high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), stirring occasionally, for about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

3. In a blender, combine the almonds, chicken stock, olive oil, and garlic. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture into a large skillet and turn the heat on to medium. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken, peas, cream and lemon zest. Cook, stirring frequently until the chicken is heated through, for about 4 minutes (mixture will be thick). Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

4. Put the cooked pasta into a serving bowl and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Toss together until the pasta is coated. Add the chicken mixture, the remaining cheese, and the basil. Toss the ingredients together, adding the reserved pasta water, as needed, to loosen the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

Enjoy your cooking!
Geniet van het koken!