Italian Pasta Recipes - Chicken Pasta with (Maniche con Pollo) Recipe

Ingredients                     

• 125 g/8 oz broccoli florets

• 75 g/3 oz/1/3 cup unsalted (sweet) butter

• 25 g/1 oz/1/4 cup plain (all-purpose) flour

• 400 ml/14 fl oz/1 3/4 cups chicken stock

• 150 ml/2/3 cup double (heavy) cream

• 5 ml/1 tsp chopped fresh sage

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 350 g/12 oz maniche or macaroni

• 450 g/1lb cooked chicken, chopped

• 75 g/3 oz/3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

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Method:

1. Cook the broccoli in boiling salted water until just tender. Drain well. Heat half the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour.

2. Cook for 1 minute then whisk in the stock. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Simmer for 5 minutes and stir in the broccoli.

3. Reduce the heat to very low and add the cream, sage, salt and pepper. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the pasta.

4. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the pasta is tender, but still firm. Drain, rinse in hot water and drain well.

5. Add the remaining butter and spoon the pasta into an ovenproof dish. Top with the chicken and then the sauce.

6. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 220°C/425°F/gas mark 7 for 20 minutes.