Spaghetti with Chicken, Pesto and Rocket

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2-3

This delicious pasta dish is quick and easy to prepare, and ideal for picnics. Sometimes we just need something a little more satisfying than a classic salad. Pasta is rich in carbohydrates and there’s also energy from the protein in the chicken and parmesan. Along with a Vitamin C boost from the basil, this is a great light summer lunch.

Choose British chicken with the Red Tractor and Union Jack on pack and you’ll know that you’re getting fresh, local birds that are fully traceable back to independently inspected British farms. Or ask your butcher if it’s British.

Ingredients

3 British chicken skinless breasts
75g fresh basil leaves
75g pine nuts, toasted
4 tbsp fresh Parmesan, grated
1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
Fresh ground black pepper and sea salt
75g dried spaghetti
2 handfuls rocket

Method

1.1) To make the pesto, place the basil leaves in a food processor along with the pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil and plenty of freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Mix together until it’s a smooth paste.

2. 2) Preheat the grill to a medium heat. Grill the chicken breasts for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Leave to rest.

3. 3) Then bring a pan of salted water to the boil.

4. 4) Drop in the spaghetti and cook according to the instructions on the packet.

5) Drain the spaghetti, leaving about 4 tablespoons of cooking liquid in the pan.

6) Stir in 4 tbsp of the freshly-made pesto, and return the spaghetti to the pan. Mix everything together thoroughly and then place the lid on top of the pan to retain the heat.

7) Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then add to the pasta pan, mix well and season with some freshly ground black pepper.

8) Allow to cool thoroughly before adding 2 handfuls of fresh rocket leaves.

9) Toss the ingredients together.

This can be served hot or cold, and placed in a plastic container ready to take on your picnic or packed lunch.

Nutritional Information   Per Serving Per 100g Calories 612 kcal 242 kcal Protein 56.3 g 22.3 g Carbohydrates 21.3 g 8.4 g Fat 34 g 13.5 g Saturated Fat 6.9 g 2.7 g