Jamaican Rasta Pasta (Jerk Chicken Pasta)
Get ready to savor something special: Jamaican Rasta pasta! It's a delicious dish bursting with yummy flavors and bright colors. The creamy, slightly spicy sauce pairs perfectly with tender jerk chicken, and the addition of red, green, and yellow bell peppers adds color and zest.
Equipment
- a stock pot
- a sauté pan
- fine-mesh strainer
- a cutting board
Ingredients
- 6 oz dried penne pasta
- 12 oz chicken breast, (cut chicken into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil , (divided)
- 3 oz sliced red bell pepper, (about 1 cup)
- 3 oz sliced green bell pepper, (about 1 cup)
- 3 oz sliced yellow or orange green pepper, (about 1 cup)
- ⅓ cup chopped green onion
- 2 garlic cloves, (minced)
- 4½ teaspoons jerk seasoning Jamaican-style, (divided) I used Badia Jerk seasoning
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
- ½ oz freshly grated parmesan cheese, (about ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup lower-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then season it with salt. Cook the penne until it's one minute away from being al dente. Reserve at least ¼ cup of pasta water for later.
- Season chicken cubes with 2¼ teaspoons jerk seasoning.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken until almost cooked, then set aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil. Cook bell pepper and green onion over medium heat for 3 minutes or until crisp tender.
- Add garlic and cook for about a minute, then stir in 2¼ teaspoons of jerk seasoning.
- Pour in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, chicken broth, and return the chicken to the skillet. Stir for about 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add pasta and around ¼ cup of pasta water. Keep stirring until the pasta is completely covered with the sauce, and the chicken is cooked all the way through. If needed, add more pasta water.
- Taste the dish and add more jerk seasoning in ¼ teaspoon increments as needed.
Notes
- Use Salted Water to Cook Penne. I just added a teaspoon of salt for every 8 cups of water.
- Taste and Season Accordingly: Jerk seasoning brands can vary widely in intensity. Start with the recommended amount in the recipe, but taste your pasta and adjust the seasoning to your liking. You have the freedom to customize the level of spiciness and flavor.
- Partial Chicken Browning: When browning chicken breast, make sure not to fully cook it, as you'll finish cooking it in the sauce later. This helps the flavors meld and prevents the meat from becoming overcooked and dry.
- Lighter Version Option: If you prefer a lighter version of Rasta Pasta, you can adjust the amount of heavy cream or opting for different amounts more quantity of penne (such as using 8 oz of instead of 6 oz of pasta and using ½ cup of heavy cream instead of 6 tablespoons). These modifications allow you to tailor the dish to your dietary preferences.
- Storage. Put the leftovers in a container that seals tightly. If you do this right, it can stay good for 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Calories: 574kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 35gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 853mgPotassium: 808mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1676IUVitamin C: 115mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 2mg
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