A hearty pasta dish, Broccoli and Chicken Farfalle. This dish satisfies both the carnivores and vegetable lovers as well as those who need an occasional carbohydrate fix.
After suffering a nasty bout of the flu in the last few weeks, I must say it feels pretty good to be back with a new recipe.
There was much that I had planned during my winter vacations but nothing revolving around travel plans.
Mostly I just wanted to slow down and focus on my blog and decide where I wanted to take it from here. I had plans to improve my photography and even purchased an online photography class, but alas it stands waiting in the sidelines.
Another area I wanted to improve was my SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If there is anything that dulls my brain more, that would be it. Helpful hints here are very much appreciated!
Also, a couple of months ago I had ordered a copy of “Will Write For Food” by Diane Jacob. A wonderful read with lots of insights and some pretty fun exercises that help sharpen one’s skills.
I eagerly pored through the first chapter before it accidentally slipped out of my hands and into a salted, hot water bath. Next time I’ll make sure to be firmly implanted on my very cozy couch!
I’ll quit rambling now and get on with my recipe!
My Mother-in-law, My Inspiriation!
My mother-in-law was a wonderful cook and introduced me to this type of simple yet tasty pasta dish. A combination of broccoli florets with either rotini, the corkscrew shaped noodles or penne pasta. Usually tossed together with a quick sauté of garlic in extra virgin olive oil and with a little heat from peperoncini piccanti, red chili pepper. It was love at first bite for me!
I soon came to realize that when broccoli was served this way, my children had no problem devouring this vegetable and it very quickly became a weekly family ritual.
Over the years, I’ve come to modify the recipe with whatever vegetable I had on hand and if I happened to have some chicken breasts just chilling in the freezer, then into the pan they went!
Prepping Broccoli and Chicken Farfalle
You will appreciate how easily this pasta dish comes together. As the pot of water gradually heats up it allows you enough time for some prep work.
I prefer to cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces but you can also cut them into 1/2 inch strips. Whatever you choose is just fine.
By the time that you’ve prepped the remaining vegetables, the water should be at a boil. As you toss in the pasta, you’re ready to start browning your chicken and adding the veggies for a quick sauté as your pasta cooks.
A few simple steps with some high quality ingredients yields a delicious plateful of Broccoli and Chicken Farfalle!
Buon Appetito 🙂
Kitchen tip on peeling tomatoes:
Plunge the tomatoes into a pot of boiling water and leave for about 20 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove the tomatoes from the hot water and run cold water over them. Score an x on the bottom of the tomato and peel back the skin with a knife. The skin will come away effortlessly.
If you make this recipe remember to tag @marisasitaliankitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Broccoli and Chicken Farfalle
Ingredients
- 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 1 bunch of broccoli cut into florets
- 2 large plump tomatoes skinned, seeded and diced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 3 plump garlic cloves minced
- a generous pinch or two of red chili pepper flakes
- chopped fresh basil I used approximately 2 handfuls
- salt and pepper
- 454 grams farfalle pasta
- 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnishing
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- In the meantime, cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces and set aside.
- Cut the broccoli into florets, rinse and set aside.
- Skin the tomatoes, slice in half, remove the seeds and dice into small pieces.
- When the water is boiling, add the pasta and some salt and cook according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and sautè for about 2 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Next, stir in the diced tomatoes, chopped onions, minced garlic, chili pepper, basil and salt and pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat and let simmer till the pasta is ready.
- Three minutes before the pasta is ready toss in the broccoli into the pot with the pasta and stir.
- Once the broccoli and pasta are ready, reserve about a cup of the pasta water.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli and toss into the skillet with the chicken and tomato, stirring well.
- If the pasta seems a little dry you can add some of the reserved pasta water.
- Stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano and drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil.
- Plate and serve while hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley for garnish and an extra sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
It looks delicious Marisa,beautiful pics! Hope you were able to enjoy it to the most after being sick❤ Stay Well now and keep cooking, my food always makes me feel better?
This was a welcome pasta dish after days and days of chicken soup. Thanks so much Karen 🙂
OH YUMMY!!
Thanks Cheryl, it really is 🙂
xx
Hi Marisa! This sounds fantastic! Great week night meal. ? I’m glad to hear that you are doing better! As for your photography, I think you take beautiful photos! They always look so mouth watering. Have a great day!
That is very kind of you Rosa…but I feel there is still so much to learn! One day at a time I suppose 🙂
I’m glad you are feeling better! I love the addition of the chile flakes to this.
Thanks Kathyrn! I too love chili flakes to a certain extent but it never seems to be spicy enough for hubby…lol 🙂
I can’t tell you how delicioius this recipe looks! I saw it on Instagram and then Foodgawker and can’t wait to try it. Your photography (and recipes) are amazing!
Hi Julie thanks so much, so kind of you but really there is just so much to learn when it comes to photography. I must admit though that I am thoroughly enjoying the process. Hope you get to try the recipe, its so simple and so yummy 🙂
Hope you are back to feeling yourself Marisa. This is exactly the type of dish I look for during the week – simple, delicious, and quick to prepare. Thank you for such a wonderful post, your goals match mine with regard to blogging. Love the photos!
Hi Paula just a mild lingering cough now, thanks.
Sometimes I find that publishing a recipe is only 50 percent of the work involved the other 50 percent comes from social media which practically changes on a daily basis which requires us bloggers to be on top of it all. With a full time job it gets somewhat challenging but I truly am enjoying it. Thanks so much for your lovely comment and good luck to you Bella. 🙂
First of all, I am glad that you are feeling better now! I am presently fighting off a bad bug as well… and it’s no fun! Secondly, your photography is amazing already! And finally, I know if I show this dish to my son, he’ll be asking that I make it… maybe I will just surprise him!! Thank you for another delicious recipe!
Hi Annika, there seems to be so many people with bad colds or the flu! Its definitely making the rounds! Get better soon!
Thanks so much for your kind compliment… I feel that I still have a lot to learn but its fun!! Hope you get to make the recipe and enjoy!! 🙂
I so love an easy recipe that I can put together in little time and with little effort and your farfalle dish is just that. Your photos are great by the way. Thanks for the printable recipe.
This dish is good old comfort food for my family. Glad to hear you like it and thanks so much Teresa 🙂
Marisa, I love your photos! I hope you’re feeling better. I know what it’s like to have a ton of expectations on ourselves, and then life can get it the way. It’s a journey, one step at a time. I love this simple recipe, which I also frequently made for my kids, too!
Yes it is a journey, sometimes a frustrating one but more often times extremely rewarding!
With such busy schedules quick and simple recipes such as this one always wins the day! Thanks for your comment Colleen 🙂
Marisa,
So sorry to hear about the nasty flu. Hope you are feeling better now.
I love this pasta recipe! And your step by step about getting prep done while the water is boiling etc… is just perfect!
Fabulous photos!
Am feeling much better Sandhya, thanks! I’m glad to hear you like the recipe…we enjoy it so much 🙂
This looks like such a perfect weeknight dinner… easy to make, but full of delicious flavours and good-for-you ingredients! Hope you’re feeling better. This year’s flu was a doozy, but maybe an extra pinch or two of hot pepper in the pasta will help clear your sinuses and get you breathing normally again. 😉
Isabelle this sure made me laugh but I must say that you may be on to something because shortly after having this pasta with chilli peppers I immediately started to feel better! But then again pasta is a real comfort food for me. Thanks so much for your comment?
This is my kind of meal, Marisa! Sorry you haven’t been well! But happy you’re on the mend!
Hi Annie, definitely mine as well! We just can’t go wrong with a beautiful and yummy plate of pasta! Being sick is always a bummer…..thanks so much for dropping by?
This looks and sounds so good Marisa! A dish with so much flavor!
Thanks Lynn! It’s so quick and easy, we have it quite often and could never get tired of it 🙂
Yumm I would love this and so would the kids!
I hope you get to try it some day?
I hope so too
This dish seems so mothwatering, Marisa! I will have to give it a try!
Thank you, its a family favourite…enjoy!?
Thank you Marisa! Trying this tonight for my 10 year old! I love the idea of tossing the broccoli in the pasta water, it saves me from washing another pot!
Hi Salma! I’ve always cooked them this way…whether it’s broccoli or rapini and yes less pots to wash! I like to get my chicken nice and caramelized when making this dish. It adds so much flavour…enjoy!
I hope my book dried out! Thanks for the mention.
Hello Diane! Lol…it was a heart stopping moment for sure but I’m happy to say that it has dried up quite well and now I only read while curled up on my couch. Thank you for writing such a wonderful indispensable book and for dropping by in my little corner of the web!