Chicken and Cavatelli

Description

So comforting and yummy, this dish reminds us of Grandma's chicken and dumplings. In fact, you can substitute frozen gnocchi dumplings for the cavatelli.

• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 5 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 onion, cut into thin slices
• 2 ribs celery, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 3 carrots, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
• 4 bone-in chicken breasts (about 2¼ pounds in all)
• ¾ pound cavatelli (ricotto gnocchi dumplings) (or use cavatelli egg noodles)
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons flour

Directions

1. In a large pot, bring the broth, bay leaf, onion, celery, and carrots to a simmer.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Add the sage, salt, pepper, and chicken breasts and simmer, partially covered, until just done, about 25 minutes.
4. Turn the chicken breasts a few times during cooking.
5. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the cavatelli until just done, about 10 minutes.
6. Drain.
7. In a small bowl, stir the butter and flour together to form a paste.
8. Remove the bay leaf from the pot, push the chicken to the side and then whisk the butter mixture into the liquid.
9. Simmer until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
10. Stir in the cooked cavatelli and simmer until just heated through.

Notes

Frozen Pasta: Several brands of frozen cavatelli, flat egg noodles, and gnocchi are available in supermarkets. Unlike dried pasta, these products have an appealing doughy chew that we find just right with this type of saucy stew. Cook the frozen pasta separately according to package directions, drain, and then stir into the pot with the chicken.