Grilled Vegetable and Chicken Salad Rigatoni

Yield: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 min.; Cook Time (veggies) 15-25 min.

Ingredients

1 small eggplant, stem trimmed, halved and cut into 6 lengthwise wedges
1 medium red or sweet onion, cut into thick slices
1 small zucchini, scrubbed, trimmed, quartered, lengthwise
1 medium carrot, trimmed, pared and quartered, lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, stems and seeds removed, quartered
1 green bell pepper, stems and seeds removed, quartered
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed through a press
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped Italian (flat leaf) parsley
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, stripped from the stems
1 box (16 oz.) Barilla rigatoni
4 grilled chicken breasts, skin and bone removed
1/4 cup pitted and coarsely chopped Kalamata olives
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, to taste

Directions:

To grill, broil or oven roast the vegetables: Combine the eggplant, onion, zucchini, carrot, peppers, garlic, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, and salt and pepper. Toss to coat.

To grill or broil: Preheat grill or broiler. Arrange vegetables on rack or on broiler pan and cook, turning to brown evenly; remove vegetables to platter or cutting board as they become tender, 5 to 15 minutes.

To oven roast: Preheat oven to 400 F. Arrange the vegetables on a large (11 x 14-inch) baking pan, preferably with a nonstick coating. Bake 35 to 45 minutes; turn vegetables after 20 minutes so that they brown evenly.

When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, cut into 1-inch pieces; add the parsley and thyme; set aside.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions in plenty of boiling salted water until firm to the bite. Ladle out about 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water and reserve. Remove from the heat and add 1 cup cold water to stop cooking; drain.

Toss pasta with the roasted vegetables, the chicken and olives; add pasta-cooking water, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and cheese. Serve at room temperature.

Compliments of Barilla

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