This dish is named after my mother, Aida. One evening, she wanted me to make something that was relatively light but with plenty of flavor (she’s a big fan of basil).
Sometimes, the best dishes are the ones that come up in the spur if the moment with simple yet fresh ingredients.
Let‘s get cooking!
Menu: Pasta Aida - Lemon torchetti pasta with chicken, mushrooms and spinach.
Wine pairing: 2021 Baglio di Pianetto Nero D’Avola DOC (Sicilia, Italy)
Serves 4
Ingredients
1/2 package of lemon torchetti pasta
5 fresh chicken tenderloins, cut in half lengthwise
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups of spinach
1 cup of baby tomatoes, halved
2 cups of mushrooms (baby portobello), sliced
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and cracked pepper
1/2 cup of white wine
1/3 cup of fresh basil, chopped
1/2 cup of Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano cheeses (blended)
DirectionsÂ
Pasta:
Cook 1/2 package of pasta per package instructions (for four servings)
Chicken:
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Pour about 4 tablespoons of extra Virgin olive oil to a pan, set on medium heat.
Sear chicken on pan for 2 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and place on a separate plate. Let chicken cool off and cut into 1-2 inch pieces.
Veggies and pan-sauce:
On the same pan add two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add garlic and sautee for 2 minutes until fragrant. Next add mushrooms and cook for five minutes. Add a little extra salt and keep.
Next add white wine to deglaze pan , reducing it for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and spinach and cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
Add chicken pieces to pan and cook on medium-high heat for an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Mix: In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, chicken-veggie mix and mix well. Add fresh basil and cheese and mix again.
Serve immediately.
Serve it up!
This colorful and fragrant dish looks great when served family style on a large platter or large bowl. Garnish with some more fresh basil leaves, cheese and a drizzle of extra Virgin Olive oil.
Buon apetito!
About the wine…
2021 Baglio di Pianetto Nero D’Avola DOC (Sicilia, Italy)
Twenty years of Baglio di Pianetto tell the story of a great and successful quest. The mission being to produce wines capable of expressing two different and unique Sicilian terroirs, while also integrating French wine making techniques. The wines from Baglio di Pianetto strike the perfect balance between tradition and innovation.
Tasting notes:
 Immediately seductive with its caressing notes of red currant, wild strawberry and pomegranate. Delightful on the palate thanks to its freshness and minerality, supported by soft and perfectly balanced tannins.
Grapes:
100% Nero D’Avola
Alcohol:
13.5%
Food pairing:Â
A fresh wine that can be enjoyed on its own for with red meats, lamb, and medium aged cheeses.
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