Healthy Eats: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

This is a slight change to the Chicken Alfredo recipe I posted recently as this one is more tomato based. If there’s any kind of chance to turn an italian meal heated up with cajun spices into a clean meal then I’m there! I’m so there! I adapted this favourite of mine to be a whole lot healthier, cleaner and more nutritious by swapping cream for low fat creme fraiche (one of the few low fat options that are actually ok), swapping the white pasta for wholegrain and swapping the heavy cheese for a sprinkling of intensely flavoured parmesan. Voila, a gorgeous main meal that even my hubby raved about…and he is a hard man to please when it comes to food!

Serves 2

– 2 teaspoons raw coconut oil
– 2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
– 4oz wholegrain spaghetti
– 1 yellow pepper, sliced thinly
– 1/2 red onion, finely sliced
– 4 mushrooms, finely sliced
– half a head of broccoli cut into small pieces
– 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
– 100ml passata
– 100ml/1 cup low sodium chicken stock
– 1 large tablespoon low fat Creme Fraiche
– 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tsp chilli powder (alter to taste)
– 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
– 1 large tablespoon grated Parmesan

Directions:

1) Prepare all of your vegetables. Put the broccoli in a steamer to partially cook for 3 mins. Set aside.

2) Add 2 teaspoons of coconut oil to a large pan and set the heat to high. Add the chicken strips and all of the seasoning. Keep stirring until the chicken has been sealed completely.

3) Add the chopped onion, mushrooms, yellow pepper and crushed garlic to the chicken, turning the heat to medium to avoid burning the garlic. Allow the onions to soften for a couple of minutes and then add the chicken stock, passata and low fat creme fraiche. Add the partially steamed broccoli. Turn the heat to low and cook for a further 10 minutes to reduce the liquid down.

4) Fill a pan with some water and add the wholegrain spaghetti. Cook for 10 mins or until al dente.

5) Combine the cooked spaghetti with the chicken mixture.

6) Serve with chopped parsley and grated parmesan.