Category: Ethnic – Regional

Categories
Chicken Italian Pasta

Olive Garden’s Chicken Milanese

Sauce & Pasta:
1/2 cup butter, unsalted
4 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 Tbsp)
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 tsp black pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp salt
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup spinach, chopped
8 roasted garlic cloves, minced (or 4 Tbsp)
1 20-oz package tortelloni or tortellini, cooked according to package directions
Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup flour
3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 Tbsp Colavita Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
4 lemon wedges
Flatten chicken breasts between 2 sheets of plastic wrap by pounding gently until chicken is approximately ½” thick.
Whisk eggs and milk together in a flat-bottom bowl.  Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, fresh parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic and pepper. Transfer to a flat plate.  Dredge chicken in flour, coating both sides. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, coating both sides. Dredge in breadcrumb mixture, coating completely on both sides. Set aside.  Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat.  Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add flour and stir well until well-blended. Add white wine, chicken broth, heavy cream and cheese. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture starts to thicken.  Add roasted garlic, pepper and salt. Stir until well blended.  Add tomatoes and spinach to sauce and allow to simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Heat olive oil in frying pan over medium-high heat. Add breaded chicken to pan and cook until both sides are golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165ºF.  Add cooked, drained tortelloni pasta to sauce and blend well.  Transfer chicken to a large platter and serve with hot, creamy tortelloni.  Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

4  Servings

Categories
Chicken Italian Main Dish

Olive Garden’s Chicken Marsala

1/4 cup cake flour (Wondra)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano
4 tablespoons oil
4 tablespoons butter
4 chicken half breasts -boneless, skinless
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup Marsala wine
In shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper and oregano; stir to blend.  In heavy skillet, heat oil and butter until butter melts and mixture bubbles lightly.  Dredge chicken in seasoned flour; shake off excess; sauté in pan 2 minutes for the first side or until lightly browned; as you turn chicken, add mushrooms around the chicken pieces. Cook about 2 more minutes, until lightly browned on the second side; stir mushrooms. Once the second side is lightly browned, add wine around the pieces; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Transfer to plates and serve.
4  Servings
Categories
Asian Chicken Main Dish Wraps

Moo Shoo Wraps

8 flour tortillas
1 package broccoli slaw
1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and cut bite sized, or use frozen bourbon chicken nuggets
1 onion, sliced
6 mushrooms, sliced (or small can of mushrooms)
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon molasses
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (or dried ginger)
dash hot pepper flakes
dash balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 1/4 cup water
Heat wok or large skillet.  Stir fry meat until cooked.  Add onion and cook for a couple minutes.  Add slaw mixture and mushrooms.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cook until vegetables are crisp tender and sauce is thickened.  Serve in wraps. 
8  Servings
Categories
Casseroles Chicken Main Dish Make Ahead Mexican

Monterey Tortilla Casseroles

Nonstick spray coating
6  6-inch corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn
1 (16-ounce) jar salsa verde
3 tablespoons light dairy sour cream
3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup  crumbled Mexican Chihuahua or farmer cheese (4 ounces)   
Light dairy sour cream (optional)   
Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)   
Chopped tomato (optional)   
Jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
Spray four 10- to 12-ounce baking dishes with nonstick coating. Place 5 tortilla wedges in the bottom of each dish. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden. Meanwhile, combine chicken, corn, salsa, the 3 tablespoons sour cream, cilantro, and flour. Divide mixture among dishes. 
Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casseroles. Top with cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and tomato.
To bake frozen casseroles: Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Top with tortilla pieces and cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Garnish as above. 
To micro-cook frozen casseroles: Cover microwave-safe casseroles with waxed paper; micro-cook on 30% power, allowing 4 minutes for 1 casserole and 5 minutes for 2 casseroles. Continue cooking, covered, on 100% power until heated through, allowing 2 to 4 minutes for 1 casserole or 3 to 6 minutes for 2 casseroles, rotating the dishes once. Top with baked tortilla pieces and cheese; micro-cook, uncovered, about 30 seconds more or until cheese is melted. Garnish as above.
*Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble casseroles as directed above, except do not top with baked tortilla pieces; place baked pieces in a moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bag. Freeze casseroles and tortilla pieces up to 1 month. 
4  Servings
Categories
Italian Soups

Minestrone Genovese

1oz. dried porcini mushrooms
1/4 lb. Swiss chard, stems removed
1/4 lb. spinach, stems removed
Salt
2 small zucchini, diced
2 medium white potatoes, peeled and diced
2 Japanese eggplants, peeled and diced
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups pasta
2 cups cooked white beans
2 tbsp. pesto (see recipe below)
Freshly ground black pepper  
Soak porcini in 2 cups warm water until soft, about 20 minutes. Remove porcini, rinse, chop and set aside. Pour porcini water through a coffee filter and reserve. Chop chard and spinach leaves. Bring porcini water and 6 cups salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add porcini, chard, spinach, zucchini, potatoes, eggplant and oil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Add pasta to soup. Cook pasta for about 10 minutes, add beans and cook 5 minutes longer. Stir in pesto and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or, in the Genovese tradition, at room temperature. Sprinkle with parmigiano-reggiano, if you like.
Pesto
2 tightly packed cups stemless fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp. pine nuts
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped Coarse salt
1/2 cup mild extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
Crush basil, pine nuts, garlic and a large pinch of salt into a fine paste with mortar and pestle. Drizzle in oil, stirring constantly, then stir in parmigiano-reggiano. Put plastic wrap directly on surface of pesto, then set aside. If using a food processor, put pine nuts, garlic and salt into the bowl of the food processor fitted with a metal blade and blend to a paste. Add basil, drizzle in oil and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in parmigiano-reggiano.
Categories
Casseroles Main Dish Make Ahead Mexican Turkey

Mexican Lasagna

6 ounces turkey breast tenderloin
1 14½-ounce can dried tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
3/4 cup skim-milk ricotta cheese
1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp. shredded nonfat (real mozzarella) cheese
2 tbsp. nonfat liquid egg substitute
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 tsp. minced roasted garlic
1/2 tbsp. chili powder
Preheat oven to 400º F.
In a food processor, chop up the turkey breast.
In a skillet, add onion and 2/3 cup chopped turkey.  Add tomatoes, garlic and chili powder, and cook about 2 minutes.  In a bowl mix together the ricotta cheese, 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, egg substitute, cilantro, salt and pepper.
Line a nonstick 9-inch-round cake pan with one of the tortillas and spread the turkey mixture over the tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border. Place a second tortilla on top and spread with all of the ricotta mixture, again leaving a 1-inch border. Add a third tortilla and cover to within an inch of the outside with the remaining turkey mixture.  Top with the fourth tortilla and cover with aluminum foil.  Place in oven for 10 minutes, remove foil and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese over top and put back in oven for 2 minutes.
 8  Servings
Categories
Casseroles Chicken Main Dish Make Ahead Mexican

Mexican Chicken Casserole

1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 (4.5-oz.) cans chopped green chilies, divided
1-3/4 lbs. skinned, boned chicken breasts
2 tsp. olive oil1 cup chopped onion
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup (2 oz.) tub-style light cream cheese
1 (10-oz.) can enchilada sauce
12 6″ corn tortillas
Cooking spray
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 oz. tortilla chips, crushed (about 6 chips)
Combine broth and 1 can of chilies in a large skillet; bring to a boil. Add chicken; reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is done, turning chicken once. Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving cooking liquid Cool chicken. Shred meat with two forks, and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 can of chilies and onion; saute 3 minutes or until soft. Add reserved cooking liquid, milk, Monterrey Jack, cream cheese, and enchilada sauce; stir well. Stir in shredded chicken; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Place 4 tortillas in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Spoon 2 cups chicken mixture over tortillas. Repeat layers twice, ending with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and chips. Bake at 350º degrees for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8 one-cup servings.  
Categories
Asian Chicken Main Dish Pasta

Hot-as-Heck Chicken on Chinese Noodles With Peanut Sauce

Peanut Sauce:
2 tsp. peeled, chopped fresh ginger
2 tsp. chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic
2 fresh jalapeno peppers
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter
2 tsp. curry powder, toasted
1/4 c. honey
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
1 tbs. olive oil
4 (6 oz.) chicken breast halves
1/2 c. dry sherry
1 c. sweet hot chili sauce
1/2 lb. dried Chinese egg noodles, cooked al dente and tossed with a dash of vegetable oil
1/2 c. dry-roasted peanuts or cashews
3 to 4 green onions, minced
To prepare the peanut sauce, combine the ginger, cilantro, garlic, jalapenos, vinegar, soy sauce and peanut butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the curry powder, honey and sesame oil; process until smooth. Set aside.
Fill a pasta pot or medium stock pot with 8 to 10 cups of salted water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Meanwhile, in a very large sauté pan, heat the oil over high heat until smoking hot. Put the chicken breasts in the pan and brown them well, about 2 minutes on each side. Decrease the heat to medium and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sherry, increase the heat to high, and cook until about half of the sherry remains, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chili sauce and turn the breasts to coat them well. Decrease the heat to low and slowly simmer while you prepare the noodles.
Put the noodles in the pasta insert and set in the pot of boiling water or in the stock pot and cook for about 2 minutes to heat through. Strain the noodles and place in a large bowl. Toss them with 1/2 cup of the peanut sauce and place on a serving platter. Remove the chicken breasts from the sauce and slice. Place the chicken slices on the noodles and pour some of the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the roasted peanuts and scallions. Serve hot.
Categories
Asian Main Dish Pork

Ginger Stir-Fry

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon red pepper, flakes
2 tablespoons oil
1 pound pork, thinly sliced
Combine first 6 ingredients in a 10 inch skillet.  Heat over med-high heat until bubbly.  Add the pork; stir fry 3 minutes.  Blend 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a small bowl.  Add to skillet, cook 2 minutes to thicken.  Serve over noodles.
4  Servings
Categories
Chicken Main Dish Mexican

Fajita-Style Chicken Tenders with Corn & Black Bean Salsa

2 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken tenders
1 pkt (1.12 oz) fajita seasoning mix
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn
1 cup salsa
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Note: Serve with lime wedges and tortilla chips or warm flour tortillas.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add tenders and cook over medium-high heat, turning once, 3 minutes or until lightly colored. Sprinkle with fajita seasoning and 2 Tbsp water; toss over medium heat 1 minute until coated and chicken is cooked through.  While tenders cook, combine beans, corn and salsa in a medium saucepan or microwave dish. Heat until hot. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Serve along with the tenders.
4  Servings