Category Archives: Ethnic – Regional

Chicken Gnocchi Veronese

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small Vidalia onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced (julienned)
½ zucchini, sliced, (julienned)
Salt to taste
4 chicken breasts, sliced in ½” strips
2 small branches rosemary
1 garlic clove, minced
Juice of ½ lemon
Veronese Sauce:
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup ricotta cheese
14 fl oz heavy cream
Gnocchi:
2 qt water
6 oz all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 lbs russet potatoes
2 tsp salt
OR
1 lb gnocchi (potato dumplings), cooked according to package directions
NOTE: You may make your own gnocchi by following the steps below, or you may purchase them already made.
Gnocchi:
Wash  potatoes and place in water. Cook potatoes until soft (cook time will depend on size of potatoes). Remove potatoes from water and cool in refrigerator.   Peel cooled potatoes and push them through a fine grater (rice grater) until mashed; do not over-mash potatoes or they will get tough.   Combine potatoes, flour and eggs in a mixing bowl. Mix well until dough does not stick to hands (add small amounts of flour at a time if needed).   Divide dough into 4 sections. Roll out each section into a long rope. Cut each rope into ½” pieces. Push fork tines on each piece for the classic gnocchi appearance.   Bring water to a boil in a sauce pot. Drop in gnocchi and cook until they float.
Chicken & Sauce:
Combine garlic, lemon juice, rosemary and chicken slices in a mixing bowl. Let marinate for at least 2 hours.   Combine Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese and heavy cream in a mixing bowl and set aside.    
Heat sauté pan on medium high. Add extra virgin olive oil, onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. Saute until onions are translucent (do not brown).   Add marinated chicken slices and cook until slices are brown on all sides and internal temperature is 165°F. Reduce heat and add sauce mixture. Bring to a simmer.    
Drain cooked gnocchi and add to pan with chicken, vegetables and sauce. Stir to coat gnocchi with sauce.   Serve gnocchi topped with extra Parmesan cheese.
4  Servings

Chicken Fajitas

4 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced – or uncooked, sliced, sauteed in oil
1/2 cup red and yellow bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup onions, sliced
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup salsa
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
8 flour tortillas
If using uncooked chicken, sauté in 1 tablespoon olive oil until no longer pink.  Remove from pan.  Heat 2 tablespoons oil, sauté onions and peppers until slightly browned.  Add mushrooms, taco seasoning, salsa and vinegar.  Stir until mushrooms are soft.  Add chicken and garlic.  Stir.  Serve with flour tortillas, sour cream, and salsa.
4  Servings

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This is sooo good!  May be too spicy for kids. 
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 (12 ounce) jar salsa verde
3/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (or pork, beef or turkey)
1 1/2 cups cheese, mexican style blend, shredded
1 1/4 cups corn
1 (4 oz.) can green chili, chopped
12 corn tortillas
2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, Hass, diced
1/2 cup red onions, diced
Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat 13 x9 in baking dish with nonstick spray.
Sauce:  Whisk soup and 1/2 can water in a bowl until smooth.  Stir in salsa, 1/4 cup cilantro and cumin.
In another bowl, combine chicken, 3/4 cup each cheese blend and sauce, corn, chilies and remaining cilantro.  Layer tortillas on bottom of baking dish.  Top with chicken mixture, cheese and sauce.  Repeat layers, ending with cheese on top.   
Cover dish with foil, bake 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 20 minutes, or until sauce bubbles around edges and cheese is melted.  Serve with lettuce, tomato, avocado and onion on side. 
*This could be made ahead and frozen.  Thaw the night before in fridge.  Bake as directed.

 6  Servings

Chicken Curry Skillet With Rice Noodles

8 ounces  wide rice noodles, broken
1-1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces     
2 tablespoons  vegetable oil
1(16-oz) pkg frozen green bean or sugar snap pea stir-fry vegetables, thawed 
1(14-oz) can  unsweetened lite coconut milk
1/2  cup  water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red curry paste
1/4 teaspoon  salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup  snipped fresh basil
Soak rice noodles according to package directions; drain.
In a 12-inch skillet, cook chicken in hot oil over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until chicken is longer pink, adding stir-fry vegetables for the last 4 minutes of cooking. Remove chicken mixture from skillet.
In the same skillet, combine coconut milk, water, sugar, fish sauce, curry paste, salt, and black pepper. Bring to boiling. Stir in rice noodles and chicken mixture. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 2 minutes or until noodles are tender but still firm and sauce is thickened. Sprinkle with basil. Makes 6 servings.

Chicken Caliente (King Ranch Casserole)

3 pounds chicken breasts, or 1 whole chicken, cooked, reserving one cup broth
1 onion, large, chopped
1 green bell pepper, large, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon chili powder
dash garlic salt
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1  (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1  (10 3/4 ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes
1/2 pound cheddar cheese, grated
12  corn tortillas, cut into strips
Bone chicken and cut into bite size pieces. Saute onion and green pepper in butter. Combine chili powder, garlic salt, soups, broth and Rotel. Place 1/2 of chicken in a large casserole; top with 1/2 soup mixture, tortilla strips, onion and green pepper, then cheese. Repeat layers. Cook covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes; then uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. (You can also use flour tortillas instead of corn.)
 8  Servings