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.