Cajun
Jambalaya Pasta
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 boneless, skinless, chicken breast -- halved
1/2 pound large shrimp -- peeled and deveined
5 quarts water
6 ounces plain fettuccine
6 ounces spinach fettuccine
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium tomatoes -- chopped
1 small green bell pepper -- sliced
1 small red bell pepper -- sliced
1 small yellow bell pepper -- sliced
1 small medium onion -- sliced
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Make a cajun seasoning blend by combining the white pepper, cayenne
pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Cut
the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. Use about one- third
of the seasoning blend to coat the chicken pieces. In another bowl,
sprinkle another one-third of the spice blend over the shrimp. Start
your pasta cooking by bringing 5 quarts of water to a boil over high
heat. Add both fettuccine to the hot water, reduce the heat to medium,
and simmer for 12 to 14 minutes or until the pasta is tender. While the
pasta cooks, heat 1 Tablespoon of the olive oil in a large frying pan
or skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, saute' the chicken in
the pan for about 2 minutes per side or until the surface of the
chicken starts to turn brown. Add the shrimp to the pan with the
chicken and cook another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the
shrimp from sticking.
When the chicken and shrimp have been seared, pour the contents of the
pan onto a plate or into a bowl. Do not rinse the pan! Put the pan back
over high heat and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add
the tomatoes, peppers and onions to the oil. Sprinkle the vegetables
with the remaining spice blend and saute' for about 10 minutes or until
the vegetables begin to turn dark brown or black. Add the chicken and
shrimp to the vegetables and pour 3/4 cup of the chicken stock in the
pan. Cook over high heat until the stock has been reduced to just about
nothing. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of stock to the pan. The
liquid should become dark as it deglazes the pan of the dark film left
by the spices and cooking food. Stir constantly, scraping the blackened
stuff on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the broth a bit more, then turn
the heat down to low. Combine the arrowroot with the wine in a small
bowl. Stir until it is dissolved. Add this to the pan and simmer over
low heat until the sauce thickens slightly. When the pasta is done,
drain it and spoon half onto a plate. Spoon half of the jambalaya
over the pasta. Sprinkle half the parsley over the top. Repeat for the
second serving.