FAJITA-STYLE PASTA

Fajita-style pasta image

Take the aromatic flavours of a classic Mexican fajita and combine with pasta for this easy, vibrant meal. It's an ideal Friday night dinner

Provided by Esther Clark

Categories Dinner

Time 35m

Yield Serves 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 large skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
1⁄4 tsp chilli powder
1 heaped tsp sweet smoked paprika
1⁄2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground coriander
1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
3 tbsp tomato purée
80ml double cream
350g penne or rigatoni pasta
1⁄2 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
grated parmesan or cheddar, to serve

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large shallow casserole or frying pan. Add the chicken and fry for 5 mins over a medium heat until golden all over. Remove and set aside on a plate.
Put the onion and peppers in the same pan and fry over a medium heat for 8-10 mins. Add the garlic, dried herbs and spices and cook for 1 min. Add the tomato purée and cook for 2 mins. Return the chicken to the pan and pour in the cream, stirring to combine. Season to taste.
Cook the pasta following pack instructions, then drain and reserve 150ml of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with 50ml of the water and stir everything together over the heat. Add a little more water to loosen if needed. Season to taste and stir through the parsley. Divide between six bowls and top with a little cheese and extra chopped parsley, if you like. This can be packed into a lunchbox and eaten cold, too.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 47 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 6 grams sugar, Fiber 6 grams fiber, Protein 24 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium