The main supermarket chain in Holland, Albert Heijn has ‘verspakkets’, these are boxes with precisely the right vegetables and sauces needed to make a meal together with instructions on how to make them. This means you don’t need to buy more than you need and are a great way to save food waste.
However, for those of you who don’t have an Albert Heijn within 10 minutes walk, and can’t speak Dutch, here is the recipe. Ready in less than 30 minutes, it makes a perfect weeknight meal for 4.
In this recipe I use parmesan cheese – like many people with mild dairy intolerances this is one of the few cheeses that I can eat. Parmesan is naturally low in lactose and aged for over a year, which helps break down the milk proteins. Many people with a milk protein intolerance find it easier to digest compared to fresh dairy products. However if you are highly sensitive, substitute vegan pesto and vegan cheese.
Italian Chicken Pesto Pasta
An easy weeknight pasta dish packed with vegetables
Ingredients
- 150g sperziebonen (green beans)
- 2 courgettes
- 10 cherry tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 300-500g chicken thigh, cut into pieces
- 90g pesto (vegan if needed)
- 15g fresh basil, roughly chopped
- 20g Parmesan*, grated (vegan if needed)
- 280g penne or other pasta (gluten free if needed)
- Rocket (arugula) to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare for the pasta:
- Bring a pan of water to the boil for the pasta
- Prepare the vegetables:
- Trim the green beans and cut them into pieces.
- Cut the courgettes lengthwise into quarters, then slice.
- Quarter the cherry tomatoes.
- Chop the onion and finely crush or chop the garlic.
- Roughly chop the basil.
- Cook the pasta
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Cook the chicken and vegetables:
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a deep frying pan (hapjespan).
- Sauté the onions and garlic over high heat for 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken pieces and fry for another 3 minutes on high heat.
- Add the green beans and courgettes. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat with the lid on
- Combine and serve:
- Stir in the pesto, cherry tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan.
- Mix in the pasta and add 1-2 tbsp of water if needed.
- Serve warm garnished with rocket.
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