Friday, July 27, 2007

Caprese Pasta Salad

Coarse salt and ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for grates
1 1/2 pounds chicken cutlets
8 ounces medium pasta shells
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for pasta. Meanwhile, heat grill to medium; lightly oil grates. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from grill, and cut into thin strips, halving if long.
Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot. Add chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley, Parmesan, and butter. Toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a sauce that coats shells (you may not need all the water). Serve with more Parmesan.

Mango Chicken Wrap

Ingredients
Serves 6
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
12 mint leaves, roughly chopped, plus sprigs for garnish
1-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely grated
2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
4 cups well-washed and -dried arugula leaves
1/4 pound pea shoots
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small jicama, peeled and julienned
1 small ripe mango, peeled, pitted and julienned
6 lavash flatbreads
Directions
In a blender, combine lime juice, lemon juice, oil, soy sauce, honey, mint, and ginger. Process dressing until smooth. Set aside.
Place chicken in a medium stockpot. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, and simmer until cooked through, about 10 to12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a medium bowl; allow to cool slightly. Shred chicken, and toss with all but 2 tablespoons of dressing. Set aside.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare an ice bath. Set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add snap peas, and cook for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice bath to cool.
In a medium bowl, combine snap peas, arugula, and pea shoots. Toss with 2 tablespoons of dressing. Season with salt and pepper.
Add jicama and mango to chicken. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Cover each lavash with arugula mixture. Divide chicken salad between lavash. Roll up to enclose filling. Cut each lavash in half on the diagonal, and serve.