Chicken and Sweet Pea Linguine with Mascarpone Cream Sauce
Mascarpone, an Italian-style cream cheese, may be best known as the key ingredient in the dessert tiramisu, but its extra-creamy texture and mild buttery taste make it a brilliant addition to pastas. Adding some of the pasta-cooking water thins out the mascarpone to make an easy, not-too-rich cream sauce.
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Ingredients
- 2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano flakes
- ½ tsp each sea salt and ground black pepper, divided
- 1½ tbsp olive oil, divided
- 8 oz whole-grain linguine
- 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
- 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
- 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Preparation
1. Season chicken with oregano and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil on medium-high. Add chicken and cook, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into thin strips. Cover with foil to keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente according to package directions. Reserving 1 cup of the cooking water, drain pasta.
3. Meanwhile, in same skillet, heat remaining ½ tbsp oil on low. Add leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and cook, stirring, until leeks are very soft and golden, 2 to 3 minutes more.
4. Increase heat to medium; add peas, mascarpone and reserved pasta-cooking water. Cook, stirring, until sauce is smooth. Add pasta, chicken, lemon zest and remaining ¼ tsp each salt and pepper; toss to coat. Sprinkle with basil.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 2 cups
- Calories 317
- Carbohydrate Content 37 g
- Cholesterol Content 57 mg
- Fat Content 10 g
- Fiber Content 6 g
- Protein Content 22 g
- Saturated Fat Content 4 g
- Sodium Content 192 mg
- Sugar Content 5 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 3 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 2 g