Categories: Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups penne pasta, uncooked
- 5 chicken tenders
- 1 1/2 c. shitake mushrooms (3.5 oz)
- 1/4 c. chopped red onions (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 T. canola oil
- 1 T. olive oil
- 1 c. Madeira wine
- 2 T. unsalted butter
- 1 T. flour
- 1/2 c. half and half
- 1/4 c. water
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 T. parsley
- 3 T. grated parmesan cheese
Directions
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ice 3.5 oz of shitake mushrooms (approximately 1 1/2 cups), discarding stems.
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Slice the chicken tenders into bite sized pieces, discarding any tendons or cartilage.
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Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, add the 2 c. uncooked penne pasta, and set timer to 9 minutes. When done, drain the pasta and set aside.
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Add 1/2 T. olive oil and 1/2 T. canola oil to a large cast iron skillet, and heat on medium high. Add the mushrooms to the pan, and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. (If you choose to add onions, you could add 1/4 c. chopped red onions at this point.) Saute the mushrooms until golden brown, then remove from the pan and set aside.
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Add the remaining oil to the pan, and add the chicken. Season chicken with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Saute until golden brown, then set aside with the cooked mushrooms.
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Add the butter to the pan, and allow to melt. Meanwhile, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. (The brown bits that you are now scraping up will help flavor the sauce.)
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Add the flour to the butter, cook and stir for 1 minute to create a roux. (This will help thicken the sauce for the pasta).
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Turn off the heat. Add the half and half and the Madeira. Once the sizzling has subsided, turn the stove back on and heat to a gentle simmer. You must cook this for several minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate and to allow the flavor of the sauce to develop.
- After 2-3 minutes, taste the sauce, and if it seems too strong, add 1/4 c. water. Add a little extra salt and pepper if needed. Add the mushrooms and chicken back into the pan with the garlic, and simmer 1-2 more minutes.
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. Add the pasta into the pan, and stir. Allow the pasta to heat for 1 minute, then turn off the heat and stir in the parsley and parmesan.