Comfort Food

Whenever my mom used to ask me “what do you want for dinner?” I would always answer “Chicken and Mushroom Bowtie Pasta”. Last year, when I realized that it had 751 calories and 23 grams of fat, I stopped asking for it and decided to give it a healthy makeover instead. I use Fiber Gourmet pasta (with 40% fewer calories than regular pasta), bump up the protein-pasta ratio with extra chicken, omit the oil and butter, and substitute a creamy combination of fat free sour cream and laughing cow cheese instead of heavy cream. The result is a hearty, creamy, comforting pasta dish that definitely stands up to the original.

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

4 servings

Ingredients:

8 oz box Fiber Gourmet Penne or Rotini

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

½ cup leeks, sliced* or 3 medium shallots, minced

1 lb mushrooms, sliced

½ cup chicken broth

½ cup fat free half and half

¼ cup fat free sour cream

4 wedges light laughing cow cheese, original flavor, room temperature 

1½ tablespoons thyme, chopped

Optional garnish: grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente (tender, but still firm). Drain and set aside.

In a small bowl combine laughing cow cheese wedges and sour cream. Set aside

Preheat a high-sided large skillet to medium heat. Spray skillet with cooking spray and add chicken, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook until chicken is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

Respray the same skillet with cooking spray and add leeks/shallots and mushrooms. Cook over medium heat until tender, about 5-7 minutes. If the vegetable mixture is dry, you can add a splash of chicken broth to help break down and moisten the vegetables.

Once vegetables are cooked through, add the remaining chicken broth, half and half, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and add cooked pasta, chicken, thyme, and cheese-sour cream mixture. Toss lightly and cook 1-2 minutes until heated through. Serve with parmesan cheese, if desired.

*Cook’s Note: Leeks are extremely gritty. You must wash them thoroughly before using. To prepare leeks, first trim off both ends. Slice leek lengthwise and then crosswise to create small slices. Place in a large bowl of cold water. Shake the leeks around with your hands, allowing the sand and grit to sink to the bottom. Remove leeks and drain.

Nutritional Information (1/4 of recipe):

Calories: 367

Total Fat: 4.5 g

Saturated Fat: 1.5 g

Cholesterol: 97.6 mg

Sodium: 866.8 mg

Carbohydrates: 48.9 g

Fiber: 18.7 g

Sugars: 6.8 g

Protein 47.1 g

So, the next time you are craving a big bowl of pasta, turn to this quick and comforting recipe for the heartiness you need, without the extra fat and calories :) Happy Eating!

This recipe is Guy Approved!