1poundRiccioli pastaor some other spirally pasta like fusili
For the Sauce
2tablespoonsolive oil
2smallonionspeeled and finely diced
3clovesgarlicpeeled and finely diced
¼cupred wine
1poundfresh mushrooms mixsliced thin
1cupdemi glace
salt and pepperto taste
¾cupsour creamor 1/2 cup half and half
For the Chicken
8chicken tendersor 2 to 3 chicken breasts, seasoned with salt & pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta and prepare your outdoor grill, depending on whether it is gas or charcoal. You know your grill and how long it takes to get hot.
The sauce takes about 20 minutes to prep and cook, so time your pasta-making and chicken grilling accordingly. The chicken takes approximately 10 minutes to cook, as does the pasta.
Preparing the sauce
In a large saucepan, heat up the olive oil until hot. Add the onions and cook until translucent over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.
Deglaze the pan with the wine and let it cook down for a minute or two. I like to add the mushrooms at this point. They will release some water, and the wine and water will continue cooking until nothing is left.
Add the demi-glace and season with salt and pepper. Let this cook to desired thickness. Reduce heat to medium-low and then add the sour cream. Stir to incorporate and cook for a minute or two to heat through.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Drain the pasta and get everything ready to plate.
Plating the dish
Add some pasta to a bowl or plate, top with a few spoonfuls of mushroom sauce, and top with the grilled chicken that can be left whole or sliced.
Notes
You may be thinking, “how do I make the sauce, grill the chicken and cook the pasta at the same time?” The sauce and pasta are easy but grilling the chicken requires breaking one of my golden rules for cooking and grilling – Never leave the grill or stove once you start cooking.Normally a lot can go wrong when you walk away from the grill but unless you have a partner to cook with, there are times you have to do it yourself. This was the case last night so I worked fast and there were no problems.We served peas with this dish, but you can serve any vegetable that the kids enjoy.