Broccoli Pesto Orecchiette
with Herby Chicken and Fresh Mozzarella
Traditional pesto, which is Italian for “pounded,” is made with basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. However, our chefs decided to jazz it up by incorporating broccoli. We thought the classic sauce couldn’t get any better, but we were wrong. It’s the PERFECT accompaniment to the deeply flavorful chicken thighs (which can be trimmed of their fat before cooking if you’d like!).
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
Ingredients
24 ounce
Chicken Thighs
12 ounce
Orecchiette Pasta
(Contains Wheat)
2 teaspoon
Dried Oregano
16 ounce
Broccoli Florets
1 unit
Lemon
4 clove
Garlic
8 tablespoon
Sour Cream
(Contains Milk)
1 teaspoon
Chili Flakes
4 ounce
Fresh Mozzarella
(Contains Milk)
Not included in your delivery
2 tablespoon
Olive Oil
unit
Salt
unit
Pepper
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Instructions
Wash and dry all produce. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Zest and halve the lemon. Mince or grate the garlic. Cut the mozzarella into bite-sized pieces.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper on all sides. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan. Cook 4-7 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove from the pan and let rest 5 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.
Place the broccoli florets into the boiling water. Cook 3-4 minutes, until crisp-tender. Remove with a slotted spoon, keeping the water boiling on the stove. Add the orecchiette to the boiling water. Cook 9-11 minutes, until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
Make the broccoli pesto: Place half the broccoli in a medium bowl and mash with a potato masher (a food processor would work as well). Mix in 2 large drizzles of olive oil (we used about 4 teaspoons) and as much garlic as you like. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the broccoli pesto to the same large pan (you used for the chicken) over medium heat. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom. Add the orecchiette and toss to combine. Stir in the sour cream and a pinch of chili flakes (if your family likes a little heat). Toss the chicken, mozzarella, and remaining broccoli into the pan. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.
Plate: Divide the broccoli pesto orecchiette between plates. Garnish with lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon and enjoy!
