Josh's Pasta

Serves 1 normal family of 4, or 1 very hungry Josh

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts or 1 packet of streaky bacon or both, cubed

Olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1 red onion, sliced

400g courgettes, sliced

250g mushrooms, I like using a mixture, but just button mushrooms work just as well

200g Rosa tomatoes

500ml cream

100ml basil pesto

Salt and pepper

500g linguine or tagliatelle cooked

Fresh basil and parmesan to serve

Method:

Heat a large frying pan to smoking point, splash in a little olive oil, and add the chicken, lemon juice and a tablespoon of pesto. Add about a cup of water and bring to the boil. Let the water reduce until the pan in completely dry and then fry the chicken until golden brown. (Poaching it first will prevent it from drying out before it has cooked through).

Remove the chicken from the pan and add the bacon.

Once the bacon is golden brown, remove it from the pan and add the onions. Once the Onions are caramelized, remove them from the pan and add the courgettes. When the courgettes are golden remove them and add the mushrooms and cook until dark golden, then remove them from the pan.

Bring the pan back up to the heat and add more olive oil, when smoking add the Rosa tomatoes, and cook until they burst and begin to colour. Now add all the separately cooked ingredients back into the pan.

Add the cream and bring it to the boil, allow to reduce until it has thickened a little then add the pesto. Season well with salt and pepper, and if you like you can add a little more pesto to taste.

Mix the pasta with the sauce and allow to stand for a few minutes before serving - I have been told it’s just not as good if you don’t. Garnish with fresh basil and some parmesan shavings.