Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 170g (6 oz) chicken breast, sliced 1cm / 1/2in thick
• 70g (2.5 oz) short pasta, dry
• 40ml (2.5 tbsp) double / heavy cream
• 30g (3 tbsp) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced
• 20g (1/4 cup) parmesan, finely grated
• 1 tsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
• 2 garlic cloves (6g), minced
• 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
• 1/2 tsp fine salt; 1 tbsp salt for the pasta water
• 6 basil leaves, torn

Method

1. Boil the pasta in heavily salted water. Before you drain it, save a full mug of the cooking water - you will need it twice.
2. Season the chicken with the salt and sear it in the jar oil over high heat, 3 min a side, to 74C / 165F. Lift it out.
3. Drop to medium and fry the garlic, chilli flakes and sun-dried tomatoes 60 seconds.
4. Pour in the cream and 60ml / 1/4 cup of the pasta water and simmer 2 min.
5. Take the pan off the boil and stir in the parmesan until the sauce is smooth.
6. Add the drained pasta and the chicken and toss hard over low heat, adding pasta water a splash at a time, until the sauce clings to the pasta instead of pooling under it.
7. Off the heat, fold through the basil.