One of My Favorite Pasta Recipes ~ Farfalle Estive

One of my favorite Italian restaurants to grab a bite to eat when in Pennsylvania, is a restaurant called Villaggio,located in Lahaska right across the street from beautiful Peddler's Village. So of course if I am eating in one of my favorite eating places then I must have a favorite dish there right? Well I do and it is Farfalle Estive. This dish is typically made with a pasta, assortment of vegetables, a protein like chicken or shellfish and this particular recipe it is tossed with a garlicky pesto. I wanted to copy Villaggio's interpretation of this classic Italian dish, and this for the most part is what they use.

Look at all of those brightly colored ingrdients!

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, seasoned and grilled (I  grill mine on our Foreman Grill) and cut into 1 inch bite size pieces.

2 cloves of garlic minced

2 cups of fresh asparagus cut into one inch log pieces. (I really only use the thin asparagus, the thicker spears can be use to make soup.)

8 oz. baby portabella (bella) mushrooms chopped

1/2 cup of sun dried tomatoes, cut julienne style

One pint of cherry tomatoes, quartered

One 15.5 oz can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Pesto, about 7 ounces and blended with 1/3 cup olive oil (I used Buitoni Pesto with Basil.)

EVOO for sauteing 

Fresh basil to garnish

And of course farfalle pasta, about half a box (6 ounces of dry pasta)

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Then in a large deep sided pan or large pot, saute the garlic in the olive oil being sure not to burn the garlic, for about 4 minutes. Add the asparagus and mushrooms and continue to saute until asparagus softens and mushrooms release their juices. Finally add the beans, meat and the tomatoes, blend with other ingredients, toss mixture with the pasta and pesto until everything is well coated with the pesto. If you need to you can add more EVOO and mix. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt. I also like to toss in some fresh basil to garnish and flavor the dish. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This is a recipe my whole family enjoys! 

It is sooo yummy and really does go a long way. Serves about 6 good sized portions.

Does your family have a favorite pasta recipe?

Ciao for now!

XO

PS...make sure you stop by tomorrow evening and link up your home inspired post to the 4th Share Your Style link party!