1/2cupcilantrochopped (2 tablespoons reserved for garnish/finish)
2tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper (seeds and veins may be eliminated if a milder flavor is desired)
3tablespoons unsalted butter (reserve tablespoon per saute)
1/2cup chicken stock
2tablespoonstequila
2tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2poundschicken breastdiced 3/4 inch
1/4cup red onionthinly sliced
1/2cupred bell pepperthinly sliced
1/2cup yellow bell pepperthinly sliced
1/2cup green bell pepperthinly sliced
1 1/2cupsheavy cream
Optional Garnish
1/2cupcorn tortilla strips
Instructions
Prepare rapidly boiling, salted water to cook pasta. Cook pasta 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 cup cilantro, garlic, and jalapeno in 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
Add stock, tequila, and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste-like consistency; set aside.
Pour soy sauce over diced chicken; set aside for 5 minutes.
Cook onion and peppers with remaining butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
When the vegetables have softened, add the chicken and soy sauce. Toss and add reserved tequila-lime paste and cream.
Bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to boil gently until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick (about 3 minutes).
When the sauce is done, toss with well-drained spinach fettuccine and reserved cilantro.
For an optional garnish and a nice crunch, add about 1/2 cup of crisp corn tortilla strips to the salad.
Recipe Tips
If you like it spicy, you can keep the seeds and veins in while chopping up the jalapeno peppers. If not, just remove them for a milder flavor.
When cooking the pasta ahead of time, make sure it's al dente (undercooked). Rinse it and add some oil to it to keep from sticking. When you are ready to serve, you can reheat it in boiling water to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.
Serve family-style or transfer to serving dishes, evenly distributing chicken and vegetables.