Spaghetti Pesto with Grilled Chicken


Ingredients:
200 grams spaghetti pasta
1/4 kilo chicken breasts or fillet
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon Spanish paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Pesto Sauce:
3/4 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts or roasted pili nuts or walnuts
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Pound chicken breasts then season with salt, garlic powder, cumin, paprika and ground pepper.
2. Grill for 20 minutes or until cooked.
3. Let it cool then cut into strips. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a large pot, prepare pasta based on cooking instructions. Drain and set aside.

Part 3
1. In a food processor or blender, process chopped basil, pine nuts, salt and pepper until blended.
2. Add extra-virgin olive oil then continue blending until combined. Add more olive oil if needed.
3. Pour on spaghetti pasta the toss until coat evenly.

Part 4
1. Transfer spaghetti pesto into serving plate.
2. Top with grilled chicken slices then garnish with chopped basil.
3. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese then serve with garlic bread. Enjoy!

Broccoli Fussili Pesto Pasta

Filipino Style Recipe:This is a very healthy dish that will surely fill up your tummy. The spice from the tuna and freshness of pesto and basil is a very nice contrast.

Ingredients:
200 grams whole wheat Fusilli pasta
1 head broccoli
2 tablespoon Olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 head onion, minced
1 can spicy tuna, drained
3 tablespoon sliced black olives
10 pieces cherry tomatoes, cut in half
180 grams pesto sauce
Handful fresh basil,chopped
Parmesan cheese
Fish sauce to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Cook fusilli according to package instruction. Drain and reserve water. Set aside.
2. Using then water from the pasta, boil again and blanch broccoli for 1 minute or until the color green becomes bright. Drain and dip into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
Part 2
1. In a big pan, heat olive oil and saute garlic and onion until translucent. Add sliced black olives and tuna and cook for 3 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes and cook again until it is slightly softened.
2. Add the pasta on the pan then pour the pesto sauce. Mix until the pesto is evenly combined with the pasta.Add the broccoli.
3. Season with fish sauce according to taste.
4. Remove from heat. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy.

Diablo Penne

Filipino Style Recipe: Diablo Penne is a popular tomato-based Italian pasta made of Penne cooked together with Italian sausage in olive oil, tomatoes, red chili, basil and other herbs. Served with Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 30-40 minutes
Good for 2-3 servings

Ingredients:
300 grams Penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 big can(350 grams) chopped tomatoes
100 grams tomato paste (optional)
100 grams sliced mushroom
200 grams hot Italian sausage, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
grated Parmesan cheese(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare the pasta based on cooking instructions. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a skillet, heat oil then cook sausage and mushroom until evenly brown.
2. Add garlic and onion then sauce until translucent.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and red chili flakes then sauce for 3 minutes.
4. Add tomato paste, basil, sugar, salt and pepper then simmer until nice thick sauce.
5. Add precooked pasta then carefully stir until pasta is well coated.
6. Transfer to serving plate then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty bread.

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Filipino Style Recipe: shrimp pesto pasta is another simple and healthy Italian pasta dish. This dish is consists of shrimp, pasta and pesto sauce that is made of processed basil, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 30-40 minutes.
Good for 3-4 person

Ingredients:
200 grams Penne pasta or any pasta
250 grams shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 red bell pepper, diced
1 head garlic, minced
1 onion, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil

Pesto Sauce:
3/4 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts or roasted pili nuts or walnuts
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare pasta based on cooking instructions. Drain and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a food processor or blender, process chopped basil, pine nuts, salt and pepper until blended.
2. Add extra-virgin olive oil then continue blending until combined. Add more olive oil if needed. Set aside.

Part 3.
1. In a pan, heat oil then add shrimp and cook until color turns to pink. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In a same pan, saute garlic, onion, and tomatoes until softened.
3. Add bell pepper and then pesto sauce. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
4. add pasta then toss to coat evenly, add shrimps.
5. Prepare shrimp and pasta on pasta tray then top with Parmesan cheese.
6. Garnish with remaining basil. Serve and enjoy.

Note:
1. You may also use ready made pesto sauce in supermarket.

Baked Pesto Cream Dory

Filipino Style Recipe: baked pesto cream dory is another simple and easy dish. This dish is consists of dory fillets baked in a blend of pesto sauce, oyster sauce, and cayenne pepper.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 15 minutes
Good for 2-3 persons

Ingredients:
700 grams cream dory, cut into 4 pieces
1 pack pesto sauce mix(dissolved in 1/4 cup water)
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary(optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine oyster sauce, cayenne pepper, rosemary, pesto sauce, salt and pepper then mix until well blended.
2. In a baking pan, lined with aluminum foil then grease with olive oil.
3. Arrange fish fillet then spread pesto mixture until well coated.
4. Bake in a preheat oven over 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.
5. Transfer to serving plate then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Penne Arrabiata

Filipino Style Recipe: Penne Arrabiata is another tomato-based pasta dish popular in Italy. This dish is made of Penne pasta cooked in olive oil, tomatoes, chili, parsley and other herbs. Penne Arrabiata is usually served in any special occassions or party.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-25 minutes
Good for 2-3 servings

Ingredients:
250 grams Penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 big can(350 grams) chopped tomatoes
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
grated Parmesan cheese(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare the pasta based on cooking instructions. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a sauce pan, heat olive oil then saute garlic, onion and chili flakes.
2. Add chopped tomatoes then simmer for 3 minutes.
3. add oregano, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper then simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add precooked pasta then carefully stir until pasta is well coated.
5. Transfer to serving plate then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with garlic bread.

Pesto Pasta

Filipino Style Recipe: pesto pasta is an easy and healthy Italian pasta dish. Pesto is made of processed basil, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper then usually served with pasta or bread.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 15-30 minutes.
Good for 3-4 person

Ingredients:
200 grams Penne pasta or any pasta
3/4 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts or roasted pili nuts or walnuts
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese or feta cheese
salt And pepper to taste
2 chicken breast fillet, fried and flakes(optional)
2 whole tomatoes, diced(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare the pasta based on cooking instructions. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a food processor or blender, process chopped basil, pine nuts, salt and pepper until blended.
2. Add extra-virgin olive oil then continue blending until combined. Add more olive oil if needed. Set aside.
3. Prepare pasta on pasta tray, pour the pesto sauce on top then add chicken flakes, tomatoes and grated cheese. Toss together then Serve!

Notes:
1. You may also used peeled and deveined shrimps instead of chicken.
2. You may also used pesto pasta sauce mix which is available in grocery stores instead of doing the pesto sauce by yourself.

Marinated Chicken Pesto

Filipino Style Recipe: marinated chicken pesto is another healthy chicken dish. First, we blend basil, pine nuts and olive oil to make a pesto. We marinate the chicken and then baked until tender. Lastly, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and then serve hot.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 25-30 minutes
Good for 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
4 pieces chicken fillet, skinless
100 grams fresh basil
50 grams toasted pine nuts or peanuts
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
100 grams malunggay leaves(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a blender, place basil, malunggay leaves, toasted pine nut and olive oil. Blend until well combined and smooth.
2. Season chicken fillet with salt and pepper then marinate with blended mixture.
3. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Part 2
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In a baking pan, place the mixture and marinated chicken. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is done.
5. Remove foil and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese on top.
6. Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese turns to lightly browned.
7. Serve hot!

Notes:
1. You may also broiled chicken instead of baking.