Saturday, February 26, 2011

Lemon Chicken with Capers or Olives and Penne Pasta



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is a quick and simple recipe that's nice to have on hand when you want something hot and hearty for dinner. It was developed by Rachael Ray and my version of it closely resembles hers. I had originally intended to have a light supper tonight, but it appears that winter missed the memo regarding the arrival of spring, and, as the day turned stormy and cold, a heavier meal seemed more appropriate. So, water for pasta was put to boil, and chicken, originally intended for the grill, was chopped, and then sauteed with lemons and capers to form a light pasta sauce. This truly is a 30 minutes meal and the recipe is structured to allow you a couple of options. Lemon can be adjusted to personal taste and olives can be swapped for capers if you prefer them. While I used penne this evening, any pasta clearly will work here. Leftovers, while problematic, require special handling. The pasta absorbs the sauce, so, I add a can of mushroom soup when I reheat it. It really works quite well and day two pasta , while slightly different, is as tasty as the original meal. This is simple, hearty and a great fall back recipe. It won't appear on anyone's bucket list or be your final meal request, but it is nice to have on hand for dinner when you are very busy. Here's the recipe.

Lemon Chicken with Capers or Olives and Penne Pasta...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Rachael Ray

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
1-1/2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white wine or dry white vermouth
2 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup chicken broth or stock
3 tablespoons capers or coarsely chopped kalamata olives, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped
12 ounces penne rigate pasta, cooked to al dente

Directions:
1) Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and chicken to the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken until lightly golden all over, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from pan. Set aside.
2) Return skillet to heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter, garlic and scallions to skillet. Saute garlic and scallions 3 minutes. Add flour and cook 2 minutes. Whisk in wine and reduce liquid, about 1 minute. Whisk lemon juice and broth into sauce. Stir in capers or olives and 1/2 cup parsley. When liquid comes to a bubble, add remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter to sauce to give it a little shine. Return chicken to pan and heat through, about 1 to 2 minutes. Toss hot pasta with chicken and sauce and serve. Adjust salt and pepper, to your taste. Sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Pasta with Chicken and White Sauce - Jamie Oliver
Chicken and Bacon Pasta - Anne's Food
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta - Erin's Food Files
Chicken Spaghetti - The Pioneer Woman
Cajun Chicken Pasta - Dinah's Dishes
Chicken Pasta - Tastydays
Lemon Chicken Pasta - Everyday Cookin'
Easy Lemon Chicken with Pasta - Food Network
Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad - Food for My Family
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta - My Halal Kitchen
Pasta with Chicken and Asparagus - Simply Recipes

75 comments :

Little Inbox said...

I'm sure the lemon chicken enhance the flavor of penne. :)

Pondside said...

This looks like another winner.
This evening I made the lemon chicken that you posted a week ago. It was delicious.

Angie's Recipes said...

I love this kind of pasta dish...homey, satisfying and full of flavours!

Yasmin said...

Yum, this looks amazing! I'm sure the flavour of the lemon just sets the right tone for the rest of the dish! Go Lemon!!!!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Of course you had me at lemon and capers. ;-) This looks fabulous--the perfect light dinner. ;-)

My Little Space said...

I really need something like this on this hot hot day. Nothing fattening & simply delicious. Thanks for this lovely recipe. Hope you're having a great weekend.
Regards, Kristy

Ginny Hartzler said...

This looks wonderful! And the way you fix the leftovers, it would be like having a different dish the next night!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

I love how u went with the flow and what was required for dinner with the same ingredients but with lods of love!
Definitely a delicious meal to put by quick , i love the addition of capers here!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

And those peas with Mint , well really good !

Ana Rita Marreiros said...

If it is pasta count on me please, but without the capers...I just love a good recipe of pasta, it's my kind of food!I could eat it at all meals in diferent ways...

Kisses and have a lovelly weekend,

Rita

Sushma Mallya said...

I am sure it would have tasted awesome with all those capers and lemoy flvour going in pasta..yum!

Lynn said...

Sounds like a great dish Mary! I've never tried capers before:@)

FOODESSA said...

As you stated...this dish may not be on a bucket list...but it certainly would be welcomed on my table anytime Mary ;o)

Have a great weekend,
Claudia

Anonymous said...

This is just perfect for me... you see, unintentionally, the Mr., Sebastian has been meat starving me... I don't mind veggies... but he's not much of a meat eater...aside from burgers... "sigh"

This looks rightfully divine.. lemon and chicken pair so well... the capers might cost me a bundle here though...

Bichinha said...

I just love penne pasta with everything, and this one looks so good :)

cocoa and coconut said...

Sounds flavourful and as usual your image looks mouthwatering. It's a real bonus that it is easy to whip up...

Cooking Gallery said...

This sounds very appetising, Mary. Thank you for sharing such a gorgeous recipe (and photo). Have a great weekend :).

Diane said...

All my favourite ingredients again, we must have similar tast buds! Have a great Sunday. Diane

Rita said...

What a lovely pasta recipe. Capers add that special zing to a recipe.
Rita

Suman Singh said...

Interesting recipe. Nice choice of ingredients to go with Penne!
Have a nice weekend!

Julie said...

Lemon and capers, delicious! Nothing better than a simple pasta recipe. Thanks for another great recipe, Mary!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I love 30 minute meals. They are especially good when you have children's sports and activities every night. Nice recipe!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Oh, boy, does this pasta dish look delicious...and I love that it's easy enough for a week night. Thanks, Mary...and have a lovely weekend, my friend!

Kim said...

I like these pastas, I can't get enough of these!

Tanna said...

This sounds delicious. Mary, my husband wanted me to let you know that he is your new biggest fan (via recipes I'm trying from your blog). LOL! Have a wonderful day. Blessings ~ Tanna

lena said...

sounds an interesting pasta..can even cook with mushroom sauce for leftovers..great idea!

Clint said...

Looks wonderful. I'll be helping it down with a nice chablis. Have a great Saturday!

From the Kitchen said...

How appropriate that your changed menu has arrived here just in time--more snow overnight! No olives, but capers are on hand and chicken thighs are in the freezer. I do long for lighter meals and sunnier skies soon!

Best,
Bonnie

Tasha said...

With the lemon and capers, it sounds like a wonderful pasta dish to me, and one that would be well recieved in my house.

Soumya Vineeth said...

Love this a lot, Love lemon flavours and Im sure this dish is truly rich!

PeggyR said...

Love, love, love this recipe!

Sonia said...

Looks delicious...will have to try it for Sunday dinner!! Thanks for always having such great recipes to share!

Miss Bloomers

Big Dude said...

This dish looks delicious Mary - The lemon/ butter/ caper combo makes everything better.

Unknown said...

Oh Mary, I love the combination of lemon and capers...this looks so delicious...love that it is truly a 30-min meal! Have a wonderful weekend! xo

Patti said...

I have really missed stopping by your delicious blog. I recently started back to college (at the ripe old age of 50!!) and adjusting to a new schedule has been part of the reason I've been MIA around blogland. But I'm getting into a routine, so I'm hoping to be around more.

Anyhow, I always love your recipes, and this one is a definite must-try. Especially because we've been eating alot of pasta lately...with the price of groceries escalating, pasta ends up being a great budget-stretcher. So I am always on the lookout for new ways to prepare it.

Thanks for sharing this yummy-sounding dish.

Blessings,
Patti

Ronda Kisner said...

Oh, that does look like a good spring-time meal. (Actually, it looks like a good anytime meal!)

Catherine said...

This meal is right up my alley. Love all of the flavor combo's. Have a wonderful weekend Mary...Blessings, Catherine

Unknown said...

I love lemon and chicken with my pasta!! :) I know it just tasted amazing!!

Unknown said...

I just love the combination of lemons and capers with my pasta! Beautiful and great advice for Day 2 pasta!!!

Funny...the "memo" was missed here too! While it looks warm and sunny outside....it still feels frigid!

Valérie said...

"Spring?" What is this "spring" you speak of? Winter is dragging along here too... But I'm cheering myself up by enjoying the last wintry meals of the year, and this recipe certainly seems like a convenient and delicious option for rushed evenings!

teresa said...

oh just gorgeous! i love that it's creamy, but also so light and lemony, delicious!

pigpigscorner said...

Very comforting dish! Love the versatility of pasta!

Priya Suresh said...

Feel like grabbing that whole plate..

Anonymous said...

I'm always looking for lighter, yet tasty pasta dishes, and this one looks perfect! Love your blog!

Lauren Hairston said...

Looks like a pasta dish I'd really love; I'll have to give it a try.

Joanne said...

Lemon and capers are some of my favorite ingredients and I'm always up for pasta, whether it's warm or cold out! Great dish.

Simply Life said...

oh delicious! These flavors mix so perfectly together!

Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...

Lemon and chicken go so perfectly well, add pasta, even better! Looks fantastic!

Ryan said...

I think you combined just about every one of my favorite ingredients! :) This looks so good and the fact that its an easy meal-- all the better! Yet another of your's that I can't wait to try! Capers and lemon are so good together. Yummy!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Lemon chicken is my favorite! I may need to add lemon to my grilled chicken tonight! YUMO! ♥

Anonymous said...

Italian seems to be on the menu for everyone lately.. :) Love capers.

Claudia said...

I don't know if it is on anyone's bucket list but I make a variation of this every other week and savor. Something about the bright lemon in the endless winter...

Unknown said...

just came across your blog! it's fabulous! you have some great insight on your posts! that looks amazing!

The Glamorous Gourmet said...

One of my favorite flavor combinations of all time - I adore capers! Fabulous post!

www.theglamorousgourmet.com

Mateja ^_^ said...

Love all the capers mingling with pasta on the plate! Capers re so delicate yet strong in flavor and they (in my opinion) elevate the flavor of the dish. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Saturday night :)

The Magic Pie said...

Hi!!!! Thank you very much for your comment on my blog :) I was a pleasure! :)
your last recipe seems great!! congratulations and your blog is really interesting..
bye bye and see you soon! :)))

That Girl said...

I love pasta with lemons and capers!

Spoon and Chopsticks said...

Great dish and so flavourful. With lemon and capers, I am sure it tastes fabulous.

~~louise~~ said...

I'm a huge fan of capers. I don't know what it is about them but they marry perfectly with lemon and naturally the chicken and penne are a bonus!

Thank you so much for sharing Mary.

pam said...

Hey, I did a chicken and caper pasta dish last night. But yours is soooo much better!

Arlene Delloro said...

I like the idea of adding capers to the lemon chicken and will definitely give it a try next time. Leftover pasta is always problematic, which is why I try to make a 2-3 serving sized dish. It just never tastes the same reheated and the sauce is always gone.

Becky said...

I love the chicken and lemon combo. It's a simple delicious dish with lots of flavor and pasta. Can't go wrong with this.

Katie@Cozydelicious said...

This pasta looks fantastic! I love the citrus, it makes the dish both light and rich.

Amy said...

Delicous looking dish. Love the flavor combination in this dish. Thanks for sharing. hm...one thing for sure is you're eating well and feeding good food to your family! ;)

Amy
http://utry.it

penny aka jeroxie said...

I love quick meals and this is just right up my alley

Faith said...

Such a beautiful dish, Mary! I bet the taste is so bright and refreshing...the perfect meal for escorting in spring!

Sandra said...

This is perfection! Love this recipe and your photo is just so beautiful!

Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul said...

MMMM, yummy! At the vegan restaurant where I work, we serve a seitan cutlet with lemon caper sauce. It's one of my favorite dishes!

Thank you for the kind words, it meant so much to me. I'm so glad you enjoy my blog. I like yours too :)

Eliana said...

So many lovely flavors in one dish. This looks awesome Mary.

Susan said...

This looks great, Mary & certianly manageable on a work-night! I will have to try it.

RamblingTart said...

I like simple, comfort food like this, Mary. :-) I'd be hard-pressed to decide between capers and kalamatas though. They're both so lovely. :-)

Candace said...

What a light and refreshing meal! I prepare my salmon with lemon and capers. I hadn't thought to prepare my chicken that way. Thank you sharing the recipe! Candace

The Single Nester said...

Lemon, pasta and capers. Three of my favorite things.

L'Chicken said...

Drooling. My husband is reading over my shoulder and says that is gross to write, but he agrees the recipe looks yum too!

Jamie said...

Bookmarked! Gorgeous recipe! I love lemon dishes for dinner and how perfect is lemon with pasta, olives and chicken? I love it!

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