Broccoli Pasta Pesto with Prawns and Pancetta
A vibrant pasta dish featuring fresh broccoli pesto, succulent prawns, crispy pancetta, and cherry tomatoes. A quick, flavourful weeknight dinner ready in 25 minutes.
One-pan Mediterranean chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta, fresh herbs, and crunchy walnuts for a flavourful weeknight dinner ready in 40 minutes.
This pasta dish brings together some brilliant Mediterranean flavours in one pan, which makes it perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want something a bit more interesting than the usual. The sun-dried tomatoes provide most of the flavour here, adding a lovely depth that you just can't get from fresh ones. Using the oil from the jar is key too - it's packed with flavour as well and gives the chicken a proper good sear.
Cooking the pasta directly in the chicken stock means it soaks up all that flavour as it cooks, rather than just sitting in plain water.
The stock reduces down to create a light sauce that coats everything nicely without being too heavy. You'll want to keep an eye on it and give it the odd stir to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.
The feta and fresh herbs go on at the end, which keeps them bright and stops the cheese from completely melting away. Walnuts might seem like an odd addition, but they add a lovely crunch that works really well with the soft pasta and tender chicken. If you're not keen on walnuts, pine nuts would work just as well.
The whole thing comes together in about 40 minutes, and most of that is just letting it simmer away while you get on with other things. The flavours are quite robust - the chilli gives it a gentle warmth without being overwhelming, and the basil ties everything together nicely. You can easily adjust this to suit what you have in the cupboard.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently with a splash of stock or water to loosen the sauce.
Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread to mop up the sauce. A glass of chilled white wine complements the Mediterranean flavours beautifully.
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