Red Sauce Chicken and Pasta

This recipe for sautéed chicken chunks in a spicy mole sauce tossed with fusilli pasta was developed at the Texas Culinary Academy.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 ounces fusilli pasta
2 1/2 pounds chicken tenders, cut into chunks
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, shelled, roasted and salted
1 cup prepared enchilada or mole sauce or 1( 8.25-ounce) jar or can
1/4 cup unsweetened chocolate, grated
4 1/2 cups salt-free chicken broth
1 cup roasted red peppers, puréed
1 cup shredded queso blanco or Monterey Jack cheese
2 avocados, diced

Cooking Directions:

1. In large pot, cook pasta according to package directions, about 8 minutes. Rinse and set aside.
2. In large, oven-proof skillet, warm vegetable oil over high heat. Add chicken chunks and sauté until nicely browned on all sides and cook throughout, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium-low.
3. Add onions and garlic to skillet. Sauté until very soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in raisins, pumpkin seeds, bottled sauce, chocolate, chicken broth and puréed red peppers. Add chicken and fusilli pasta. Stir to coat chicken and pasta with sauce.
4. To serve, top with grated cheese and diced avocado.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of the National Chicken Council. Used with permission.