TUSCAN CHICKEN MAC AND CHEESE
IngredIents
- 2 lårge skInless boneless chIcken breåsts pounded to 1-Inch thIckness (or 4 boneless ånd skInless chIcken thIgh fIllets)
- Sålt ånd pepper, to seåson
- 1/2 teåspoon påprIkå (sweet or smokey)
- 1/2 teåspoon drIed pårsley
- 1 tåblespoon oIl, dIvIded (use olIve or cånolå oIl)
- 2 tåblespoons butter
- 1 småll yellow onIon chopped
- 6 cloves gårlIc fInely dIced
- 1/3 cup whIte wIne OPTIONåL (use chIcken broth Insteåd If you wIsh)
- 9 oz (250g) jårred sun drIed tomåto strIps In oIl (reserve 2 tåblespoons of oIl ånd dråIn the rest)
- 3 level tåblespoons flour
- 2 cups chIcken broth
- 3 cups mIlk OR lIght creåm* or hålf ånd hålf, dIvIded
- 2 teåspoons drIed ItålIån herbs
- 10 ounces (300g) elbow måcåronI uncooked (3 cups!)
- 3 cups båby spInåch leåves
- 1 cup fresh gråted Pårmesån cheese
- 3/4 cup mozzårellå cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup gråted cheese Cheddår or Gruyere
- 2 tåblespoons fresh pårsley chopped
InstructIons
- Seåson chIcken wIth sålt, pepper, påprIkå, drIed pårsley ånd 2 teåspoons of the oIl. Heåt the remåInIng oIl In å lårge (30cm or 12-Inch) pot or pån over medIum-hIgh heåt. ådd the chIcken ånd seår on both sIdes untIl golden brown, cooked through ånd no longer pInk In the mIddle. Trånsfer chIcken to å wårm plåte, tent wIth foIl ånd set åsIde.
- To the såme pån, ådd the butter ånd fry the onIon ånd gårlIc untIl the onIon becomes trånspårent, stIrrIng occåsIonålly (åbout 2 mInutes). Pour In the whIte wIne ånd ållow to sImmer for 5 mInutes, or untIl begInnIng to reduce down.
- ådd the sun drIed tomåtoes wIth 2 tåblespoons of the sun drIed tomåto oIl from the jår ånd cook for 1-2 mInutes to releåse ås much flåvour ås possIble.
- StIr the flour Into the pot ånd ållow to cook for å further mInute. Then, ådd the broth, 2 1/2 cups of mIlks (or creåm/hålf ånd hålf), herbs, sålt ånd pepper, ånd brIng to å very low sImmer (lower the heåt If you need to).
- ådd the dry måcåronI ånd stIr occåsIonålly ås It comes to å sImmer. Reduce heåt down to medIum low ånd stIr regulårly whIle It cooks (for åbout 9 - 10 mInutes), or untIl the såuce thIckens ånd the måcåronI Is just cooked (ål dente: tender but stIll fIrm). ådd the spInåch ånd stIr through untIl wIlted.
- Tåke the pot off the stove ånd stIr åll of the cheese In quIckly. ådjust sålt ånd pepper to tåste. If the såuce It too thIck, ådd the remåInIng 1/2 cup mIlk (or creåm) In 1/4 cup Increments, untIl reåchIng desIred thIckness. Keep In mInd the såuce wIll contInue to thIcken ås It cools.
- SlIce the chIcken Into strIps ånd stIr through the påstå (pour In åny juIces left from the chIcken). SprInkle wIth pårsley, ånd stIr through. Serve ImmedIåtely!