Tuesday, May 15, 2007

New Recipe!

I made a new recipe tonight and it went over very well! I thought I'd share it.
Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. Pampered Chef Jamaican Jerk Rub
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

(I had leftover chicken breasts from the other night that I sliced and put in the freezer for this dish. I sprinkled the seasoning over the thawed chicken and heated it up in the oil on the stove rather than warming in the microwave - I didn't want it to dry out.)
In a bowl, whisk together oil and jerk rub. Add chicken; mix well to coat. Saute' chicken strips, 3-5 minutes each side, turning once. Remove from pan; cut into bite-sized pieces.
1 medium pineapple
Peel and core pineapple and cut into 1/4" slices. Add pineapple to pan you cooked chicken in. Cook on medium heat 1 minute on each side, turning once. Set aside.
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced (okay, I obviously chopped mine)
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
6 slices bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
1 pound pasta, cooked and drained and tossed with 2 tbsp. olive oil
Toss all ingredients but pineapple together in a bowl.
Dressing: 2 limes
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tbsp. pineapple preserves
Grate one lime. Juice both limes. Add lime juice, zest, mayonaise, and preserves in a bowl and whisk well. Pour over pasta salad and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pineapple on the side. Serves 6.
You can also make this a regular green salad - omit the pasta and olive oil it was tossed in - substitute 2 heads romaine lettuce, torn. Layer the ingredients, putting the pineapple IN the salad this time. Everything else is the same.

This was so yummy! I was actually pretty apprehensive, because I didn't think Steve would like it, but he did. He didn't partake of the pineapple, of course. I think he was attacked by a bowl of fruit when he was but a wee boy. :^D He dislikes like most fruit.

I had to put the leftovers in the fridge - I kept nibbling, it was so good! Try it! Very different, quite summery! And it is served at room temperature, but it'd also be good cold. Trust me on this one. :^D

5 comments:

Debbie said...

Hmm..that looks yummy! This one goes in the "to try" file.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

I LOVE the plate....food doesn't look great to me these days...living on toast....but some day I'll come back and find this recipe again. LOL

Kathy in WA said...

This DOES look good! I need to find a Carribbean Jerk seasoning that doesn't include sugar. Is there such a thing out there? Does the Pampered Chef one have sugar (in any form) in it? Let me know!

Kristine said...

It sounds quite yummy, Ginger. I'll have to put it on my list of things to cook AFTER I move.

I am enjoying your recipe sharing posts and photos, so please continue with them!

(Too bad I'm not moving to LA, I'd just have to finagle a lunch invitation.)

:)

Cynthia said...

That looks so SPRINGY and YUMMY! Thanks for sharing the recipe and the photos... love the photos (LOL)!