Creamy Pappardelle with Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Make this. It’s amazing.

Okay, now that I’ve got that out in the open, here’s the backstory: I picked this recipe from Food52.com because I needed something to use up some extra anchovy fillets I had leftover from something else (and I can never just throw stuff like that away). I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but by the time the sauce was simmering on the stove I could tell from the aroma that I had a winner. The anchovies and sun-dried tomatoes combine to make a complex sauce that doesn’t taste particularly fishy or tomato-y, but still tastes incredible– it’s all that natural monosodium glutamate, which makes for some amazing umami flavor. A generous pinch of chili flakes and a squeeze of lemon brighten things up for a nicely balanced sauce. In case you can’t tell, I highly recommend it.

Try it and see!

Creamy Pappardelle with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes (adapted slightly from Food52.com)

• 1 to 1 ¹/₂ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• Kosher salt + freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 7 flat-fillet anchovies (from a 2-ounce olive-oil packed tin), minced and smashed to a paste
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• ²/₃ cup halved or slivered sun-dried tomatoes, drained
• 1 or 2 pinches of red pepper flakes
• 1 cup chicken stock
• ²/₃ cup heavy cream
• 1 lemon (finely grated zest + juice)
• 12 ounces pappardelle
• Flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Parmesan cheese, grated

• In a 12-inch skillet, melt butter and combine with anchovies and thyme over medium heat. Cook, mashing the anchovies into the butter, until they pretty much melt in.
• Add chicken thighs to the anchovy butter and cook through, turning to brown on both sides. Remove chicken to a plate.
• Add shallot to butter and cook a few minutes until softened.
• Add the white wine and scrape up the browned bits from the chicken at the bottom of the pan.
• Now is a good time to start your water boiling for the pappardelle. Remember to add salt for flavor.
• Add tomatoes and pepper flakes and continue to cook until softened.
• Add chicken stock and cream, scraping the bottom of the pan again. Cook until thickened to a saucy consistency.
• Just as you add your chicken stock and cream, add your pappardelle to your boiling water and cook until done, about 8-9 minutes.
• When your sauce has thickened, taste it, then add lemon zest and juice until it brightens up to your taste.
• Add chicken back into skillet and let it heat through again.
• When pasta is done (should be right around this time), add it to the skillet and toss to combine, then top with parsley and cheese.
• Serve and enjoy!

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