Thursday, October 13, 2011

Smacked Flat Chicken and Linguine with Broccoli Sauce


Here is dinner combination that I used to make often when my girls were in high school and living at home. It was great for those nights before a big tennis match. The original recipe is from Creme de Colorado, still one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. I've lightened up the calories in the recipes but the great flavors still shine through.

The original recipe calls for turkey tenderloins but I have always used chicken.  It's called Smacked Flat because the chicken (or turkey) is pounded thin and then coated with seasoned bread crumbs, herbs and grated Parmesan cheese.  The thin medallions only take a few minutes to saute and then a little butter and the juice of a lemon are added to the pan to make a sauce to pour over the sauteed chicken.


The real star of the plate is the Linguine in Broccoli Cream Sauce.  This would be a delicious side to any variety of meats and seafood or could stand on it's own with some toasted pine nuts and a side salad. Even those who don't like plain broccoli will love this! (You can hide the broccoli garnish and they won't even know.)


Enjoy!

Smacked Flat Chicken with Linguine in Broccoli Cream Sauce

Adapted from Creme de Colorado
Printable Recipe

Smacked Flat Chicken

Serves 4

4 turkey tenderloins or 4 boneless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup butter (I either omit or use just 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons butter (I use only 1)
Juice of 1 lemon

Pound turkey or chicken lightly between 2 sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper to about 1/4-inch thickness. (I usually cut each breast into 2 pieces, and then pound them. ) In a plastic bag or a bowl combine the garlic powder, bread crumbs, Parmesan, pepper and paprika. Shake or dust each piece of meat until well coated and place on a waxed paper-lined plate, using waxed paper in between layers of meat, if necessary. Can be made ahead and refrigerated up to this point.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter, if using, until hot. Saute tenderloins, a few at a time for 2-3 minutes on each side. Do not overcook. Drain on paper toweling and keep on a warm platter.

Add a small amount of butter to the skillet over high heat. When it bubbles, add the juice of one lemon and stir rapidly. Continue to cook over high heat, stirring constantly while scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet as the mixture thickens slightly. Pour this over the tenderloins and serve.


Linguine in Broccoli Cream Sauce

Adapted from Creme de Colorado
Printable Recipe

Serves 8 as a side dish

1-1/2 pounds of fresh broccoli
Reserve 1/4 cup of broccoli-cooking liquid
1/4 cup butter (I use 1/8 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated, if you have it)
1 large clove of garlic, cut into slices
1 cup heavy cream (I use fat-free half & half)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound linguine, cooked al dente and drained

Trim off and discard the ends of the broccoli stems. Cut off flowerets and peel and slice stems. Heat a large saucepan of salted water to boiling. Add broccoli and cook for about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. Rinse broccoli until cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside liquid and 3/4 cup of the cooked flowerets for garnish.

In a food processor with the steel blade, combine remaining broccoli, reserved cooking liquid, butter, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Turn on processor and drop garlic through the feed tube. Process until smooth. Can be made ahead up to this point. Cover and let stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

In a saucepan, heat the cream (or fat free half & half) over medium heat and stir in broccoli sauce. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and heat to simmering. In a heated serving dish, toss the warm pasta with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Garnish with reserved flowerets and serve immediately.

59 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious. I love chicken like this and paired with broccoli and pasta - love! xo

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  2. Wow, this really sounds great Susan! I'd love to try it, especially the pasta:@)

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  3. Beautiful! I have that cookbook and do not use it enough. I also have Colorado Cache.

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  4. Dinner looks fabulous! The broccoli cream sauce sounds delicious...it will be on the menu soon.

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  5. What a colorful presentation this meal makes! I can ALMOST taste how good it is because of your picture. I'll need to get in the kitchen & whip this one up. The pasta looks divine!!!

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  6. I think I would use the chicken in place of the turkey - the broccoli sauce on the linguini would be such a beautiful accompaniment to this and many other dishes.
    Thank you for sharing. xx

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  7. I would have to try something with a name like "Smacked Flat Chicken!" It looks wonderful, and that pasta looks just divine. :)

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  8. Sounds yummy! As alway it is beautifully plated. Bonnie

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  9. This sounds smacking! The pasta is pretty on the dish and looks delish. Love this one! Thanks for sharing. Hugs

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  10. Susan -- this sounds incredible!! I love dishes with fun names. This one is a winner all the way around :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  11. OMG Look absolutely delicious! gloria

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  12. Oh my, now I'm starving! That sounds and looks scrumptious!

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  13. The linguine with broccoli cream sauce is most intriguing - seems decadently healthful. And how nice that you don't need to dunk the chicken in a messy egg bath...

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  14. Oooh, this looks delish! Thanks for sharing any kind of broccoli and chicken combination, two of my favorite things.

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  15. Susan è bellissimo questo piatto!complimenti!!!!baci!

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  16. The green linguine looks excellent, nice vibrant color

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  17. Delicious! I'm already bemoaning the fact that one needs to look only to winter produce and am thrilled to have the broccoli pasta to look forward too.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  18. One of my favorite quick dishes is something I call green slime rice... been making it for years and it's simple... pureed spinach plus a few things... Love it.

    This is a keeper for me, The color is perfect and the recipe gussies up broccoli nicely! No wonder it was a favorite for you and the kids!

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  19. Looks so good! Such a colorful dinner. I like the thin cutlets so much better, loved the name, smacked flat :)

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  20. I bet they won every game after that!

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  21. I love the smashed chicken title and the breading you used. This broccoli sauce sounds awesome and I would never have thought of it, but we'll try it for sure.

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  22. What a beautiful plate you created; love it. Yes, I printed this one out. I can see serving this as a lovely supper for 2. Thank you so much,
    Rita

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  23. I like this recipe because not only does it look like something i would enjoy eating, its healthy as well. So its win win for me. Richard from Amish Stories.

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  24. Love the title of this recipe and, though I don't care for broccoli, I think this sounds yummy.

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  25. I LOVE the idea of broccoli cream sauce! I am trying this recipe. What a great way to eat broccoli (not that I don't love it anyway). Thanks for this, I'm printing it out.

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  26. My jaw just dropped over the concept of broccoli sauce. Genius!! This whole meal sounds delicious!

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  27. Frankly I would be savoring each bite of this meal instead of watching the game no matter how exciting!

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  28. Really delicious Susan!Great idea for my next meal...A warm hug...

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  29. Ahh the poulet:) Sounds and looks familiar..So good..a staple here..But the pasta sidedish:)?
    New to me..Thank you..loved Mr. Mack at tennis:)

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  30. I'm saving this one. When I make rouladen, I always serve noodles and broccoli timbals. Wouldn't this be good with the rouladen?....and a very nice change.

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  31. If you can believe this, my husband buys turkey tenderloins and makes a similar dish for us! I'll suggest the broccoli pasta dish next time he cooks his tenderloins.

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  32. Oh, this looks and sounds so delicious. It's the kind of recipes that you can smell with your eyes!

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  33. a) I love the idea of "smacked flat" chicken!

    b) Broccoli sauce for linguine is the best idea ever!!

    Sues

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  34. Yum!! Looks delicious, perfect way to get the veggies!

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  35. If I were still running my race this weekend, that linguine is exactly what i would want to eat the night before!

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  36. Your dinner looks wonderful. I always abuse my chicken and pork before I dredge, I like it thinner.
    I would try the pasta, but you know me and green veggies!

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  37. love the name of this dish and love the linguine have a fab weekend with your grand baby hugs

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  38. It seems that smacking my chicken is in my fiture but the real star is the creamy broccoli ssauce.

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  39. This is a beautiful meal! Looks delicious, both the Chicken and the Linguine! Yum!

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  40. My children also loved cutlets prepared this way and I loved the ease of making them. The linguine with broccoli sounds so good and a nice way to incorporate a vegetable into the meal. The Creme de Colorado cookbook intrigues me as both of my children now live in Colorado :)

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  41. Yes, that linguine in broccoli sauce has definitely stolen the show. Beautiful plating and colour combination.

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  42. I love the color of the broccoli cream sauce, it looks so fun! And sometimes there's nothing better than a simple pan sauce.

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  43. What a great dinner; broccoli cream sauce sounds very intriguing!

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  44. What a beautiful and delicious looking dinner! Love the flavors!

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  45. I just love the name of this and you have to love it when you get to beat the chicken -- it takes out a bit of aggression. Joni

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  46. Susan, such a nice meal...love it all, the chicken, the pasta and the side salad. Beautiful color the broccoli sauce.
    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead and thanks for this fabulous meal :-)

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  47. What a yummy meal! This pasta dish might just get my husband to eat broccoli.

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  48. What a fabulous meal! I'm drooling over that linguine in broccoli cream sauce. So unique. Must make this soon. :)

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  49. I have never seen that broccoli dish before. My family would surely enjoy this dish.

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  50. I love the name of the chicken! The pasta looks fabulous too. I have never tried a side dish like it before and it is so beautifiul. Yum. You always make me hungry.

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  51. The linguini with broccoli cream sauce really caught my attention-DELICIOUS!! In fact, your entire meal rocks.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  52. Yum, this looks and sounds delish. So good to find you at my friend Yvonne's ( who is always busy)

    Oh I have a Designer Pillows Giveaway! I hope you will join! ( a great resource as well)

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  53. Delicious!! The pasta concept is so up our alley and the chicken easy peasy and yummy. This is a perfect meal for the whole family!!

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  54. The chicken and the broccoli linguine make such as lovely plate. Very impressive for friends as well as family.
    Sam

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  55. Being from Colorado, I love our Junior League cookbooks and have them all. Why have I never noticed this recipe????? Looks wonderful and must give it a try.

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