Penne with Roasted Chicken & Radicchio
Radicchio is a brawlingly bitter green that becomes impossibly meek and mild when simmered. Paired with some cheese and the meat from a rotisserie chicken, it cooks up quickly into a memorable pasta dish.
Servings: 6 servings, 1 1/2 cups each
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Cuisine: Italian
Health: High Fiber, Low Sat Fat, Low Cholesterol, Low Sodium, Heart Healthy
Ingredients:
1 pound whole-wheat penne
1 head radicchio , torn into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese , divided
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 each 2-pound roasted chicken , skin discarded, meat removed from bones and shredded (4 cups)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Steps:
1: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
2: Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Place radicchio and the reserved liquid in the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the pasta, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, oil, chicken, vinegar and pepper and continue cooking until the cheese starts to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve the pasta garnished with walnuts and the remaining cheese.