Aglio Olio with Grilled Chicken

Aglio Olio is a traditional Italian pasta dish.  It means garlic and oil and is made by sauteeing minced garlic and tossing with spaghetti, sometimes dried chilli flakes added to it.  Garnish with finely chopped parsley and sometimes with parmesan cheese.  When I cook Aglio Olio, I will not add chilli flakes because kiddos do not eat.  I will also add in other ingredients so the simple dish is more interesting to the kiddos.  Forget about going through cook books or magazines recipes for the authentic recipe, I came out with my version, the one my family like.

  


Aglio Olio with Grilled Chicken                       

a tray of boneless chicken chop
1 tbsp garlic salt (buy from grocery store)
1 tsp dried Rosemary leaves
350g Penne pasta, cook according to instruction on package (save a bowl of pasta water)
2 cloves garlic,minced
Capsicum (I used 2 diferent colours, 1/2 each)
5 Shitake Mushrooms
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup of parmesan cheese
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Olive oil for frying


1. Marinate chicken with garlic salt, Rosemary and set aside for at least an hour or more.

2. Heat a grill pan brushed with some oil, place chicken skin down for about 8-10 mins then turn over and grill for another 8-10 mins or until cooked.  Set aside for about 10 mins chicken once cooked.

3. Cut chicken into small bite size.

4. In a pan, heat olive oil and saute garlic. Add mushrooms and grilled chicken to pan, fry for about 1 minute.

5. Stir in cooked Penne, fry in medium heat for about 2 minutes.  Add 1 tbsp of reserved pasta water if Penne mixture is too dry.

6. Add capsicum, salt and pepper and fry for another 1 minute.

7. Turn heat off and stir in parmesan cheese and chopped parsley mix well.

Note: Cook Penne just before you fry garlic. To cook good pasta, add plenty of salt and keep water boiling throughout cooking time. Do not cover and stir from time to time. Pasta should be cooked 'al dente' that means just slightly chewy.  Once pasta is cooked, strain immediately without draining off all the cooking water.  Season and serve while hot.

Bon Appetit!!!