Whipped ricotta one pot chicken pasta – with sun dried tomatoes











Ingredients
Chicken
- 500g/1 lb chicken thigh fillets, cut into small bite size pieces (or breast or tenderloin)
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Pasta
- 220g/ 7 oz jar sun-dried tomato stripes in oil, drained (RESERVE OIL) (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp oil from the sun dried tomato jar
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (ok if you don't have)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine, optional (Note 2)
- 400g/14 oz canned crushed tomato
- 350g / 12oz fusilli pasta (spirals), penne, ziti, macaroni, small shells or similar, uncooked
- 1 litre / 4 cups chicken stock/broth, low sodium (sub water plus 1/2 tsp salt)
- 1/4 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped (can survive without), plus extra for garnish
Whipped ricotta
- 1/2 cup ricotta (Paesanella is my preferred brand), full fat
- 4 tbsp milk, preferably full fat
- 1/4 cup (packed) finely grated parmesan, sub pinch of salt
Instructions
- 1
Whipped ricotta - Put the ingredients in a bowl. Whisk vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until it becomes the texture of softly whipped cream. Add milk to loosen, if needed.
- 2
Seal chicken - Heat sun dried tomato oil in a large heavy based pot over high heat. Add the chicken. sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes until the outside is sealed but the inside is still raw. Remove with slotted spoon into a bowl.
- 3
Sauté - In the same pot, add the onion and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes until the onion is translucent. Add the tomato paste and oil drained sun dried tomatoes (reserve any remaining oil for another use). Cook for 1 minute.
- 4
Deglaze - Add white wine and let it simmer rapidly for 1 – 2 minutes, stirring regularly, until mostly evaporated.
- 5
Cooking liquid - Add pasta and cooked chicken along with any juices accumulated in the bowl. Stir to coat in all the tasty flavours. Add the stock, canned tomato, salt and pepper.
- 6
Cook 15 minutes - Give it a good stir, let it come to a boil then lower the heat to medium high so it's simmering rapidly but not boiling like crazy. Cook for 15 minutes (no lid), stirring every 2 minutes or so at first then more regularly towards the end, so the base doesn't catch. Lower the heat a touch towards the end, if needed.
- 7
How to tell it's done - Most of the liquid should be absorbed and the pasta should be just cooked (al dente), though still a little soupy (that's good, it gets absorbed quickly while serving). Stir in the basil.
- 8
Serve - Transfer into a serving bowl or divide between bowls. Dollop the whipped ricotta on top then randomly smear (or let everyone do that themselves), it will get all melty. Dig in!




