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orecchiette pasta and sliced cooked skinless chicken breast in a pale milk sauce with plentiful wilted spinach folded throughout
Andre Lewis

Chicken Florentine Pasta

Spinach is the main vegetable here, with enough in the sauce to show up in every serving. Let it wilt and release its first moisture before adding the milk sauce so the finished pasta doesn't collect greenish water at the bottom. A little nutmeg suits the spinach without making the sauce taste sweet. The chicken cutlets rest while the sauce comes together, then return in slices. Gentle heat keeps the dairy smooth and gives the pasta time to pick up flavor without boiling the chicken again.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz dry orecchiette
  • 1 tbsp fine salt for pasta water
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast sliced horizontally into 1/2-inch cutlets
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt for chicken and sauce, divided
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small shallot finely diced
  • 6 oz baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan

Method
 

  1. Cook orecchiette in water with the tablespoon salt until 1 minute short of the package time. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Meanwhile, season cutlets with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until at least 165°F; transfer to a board to rest.
  3. Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat and cook shallot for 2 minutes. Add spinach in handfuls and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted and excess moisture evaporates.
  4. Stir flour into the spinach for 1 minute, then gradually add wine and milk. Simmer gently for 3 minutes and add nutmeg and remaining salt.
  5. Slice chicken and return with the pasta and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stir in Parmesan off the heat and add more water if needed before serving.