Seared Chicken & Fregola Sarda with Lemon-Caper Sauce

Seared Chicken & Fregola Sarda

with Lemon-Caper Sauce

40 MIN
2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

Thanks to its nutty flavor and small, round shape, fregola sarda—made from toasted semolina—is a uniquely delicious option for pasta salads. Here, as a seasonal side for pan-seared chicken, we’re tossing the pasta with sautéed summer vegetables and a rich, tangy sauce made from butter, lemon, and briny capers.
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    630 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Seared Chicken & Fregola Sarda with Lemon-Caper Sauce
Title
  • 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • ⅔ cup Fregola Sarda Pasta
  • 4 oz Sweet Peppers
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Zucchini
  • 1 Tbsp Capers
  • 2 Tbsps Butter
time-saving
tips & techniques
How To: Quarter and Deseed a Lemon
How To: Safely Cut Round Vegetables
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Medium dice the zucchini. Cut off and discard the stems of the peppers; remove the cores. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Roughly chop the capers. Quarter and deseed the lemon. 

Cook the pasta:
2 Cook the pasta:

Place the pasta in a strainer and thoroughly rinse under water to remove any excess starch. Add to the pot of boiling water. Cook, uncovered, 7 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Cook the vegetables:
3 Cook the vegetables:

Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the diced zucchini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the sliced peppers and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a plate. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the chicken:
4 Cook the chicken:

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board.

*An instant-read thermometer should register 165°F.

Make the sauce:
5 Make the sauce:

To the pan of reserved fond, add the butter, chopped capers, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly and scraping up any fond, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined and the butter is melted. Turn off the heat.

Finish & serve your dish:
6 Finish & serve your dish:

To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked vegetables and sauce; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the finished pasta with the sliced chicken. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

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Seared Chicken & Fregola Sarda

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Medium dice the zucchini. Cut off and discard the stems of the peppers; remove the cores. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Roughly chop the capers. Quarter and deseed the lemon. 

2 Cook the pasta:

Place the pasta in a strainer and thoroughly rinse under water to remove any excess starch. Add to the pot of boiling water. Cook, uncovered, 7 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Cook the pasta:
Cook the vegetables:
3 Cook the vegetables:

Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the diced zucchini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the sliced peppers and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a plate. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out the pan.

4 Cook the chicken:

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board.

*An instant-read thermometer should register 165°F.

Cook the chicken:
Make the sauce:
5 Make the sauce:

To the pan of reserved fond, add the butter, chopped capers, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly and scraping up any fond, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined and the butter is melted. Turn off the heat.

6 Finish & serve your dish:

To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked vegetables and sauce; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the finished pasta with the sliced chicken. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

Finish & serve your dish: