Tequila Lime Fettuccini

Tequila Lime Fettuccine (California Pizza Kitchen)

1 pound dry spinach fettuccine (or 2 pounds fresh)

½ c chopped fresh cilantro (2 T reserved for garnish/finish)

2 T minced fresh garlic

2 T minced jalapeno pepper

3 T unsalted butter (reserve 1 T per sauté)

½ c chicken stock

2 T gold tequila (apple juice, cooking wine, etc)

2 T freshly squeezed lime juice

3 T soy sauce

1 ¼ pounds chicken breast, diced ¾ inch

¼ medium red onion, very thinly sliced

½ medium red bell pepper, very thinly sliced

½ medium yellow bell pepper, very thinly sliced

½ medium green bell pepper, very thinly sliced

1 ½ c heavy cream (or ½ and ½ for lighter sauce)

Prepare rapidly boiling, salted water to cook past; cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry pasta, approximately 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked slightly ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then “flashed” (reheated) in boiling water or cooked to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.

Cook 1/3 c cilantro, garlic and jalapeno in 2 T butter over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Add stock, tequila and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a pastelike consistency; set aside.

Pour soy sauce over diced chicken; set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile cook onion and peppers, stirring occasionally, with remaining butter over medium heat. When the vegetables have wilted (become limp), add chicken and soy sauce; toss and add reserved tequila/lime paste and cream. Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick (about 3 minutes). When sauce is done, toss with well-drained spinach fettucine and reserved cilantro.

Serve family style or transfer to serving dishes, evenly distributing chicken and vegetables.