Penne Pasta with Grilled Chicken and Green Peas

Overview
A simple Penne pasta dish that is quick and easy to make. I have grilled the chicken breast tenderloins and then added it to the pasta to add an extra smoky flavor to the dish.  The pasta should be al dente to get that chewy texture.

Penne Pasta with Grilled Chicken and Green Peas

Ingredients
Half pound dry small penne pasta
Chicken breast tenderloin 6
Frozen green peas
Dried Oregano - 1 teaspoon
Dried Basil - 1 tablespoon
Dried chives - 2 tablespoons
Black pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic - 6 cloves finely chopped
Red Onion  - 2 medium thin sliced
Red pepper flakes - 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Olive oil - 6 tablespoons

Steps
1. Bring a big pot of water to boil. Add salt and a teaspoon of olive oil along with penne pasta to it. Bring to boil and cook for about 9 minutes. Drain the pasta. Add 1 more teaspoon of olive oil to it along with dried basil and chives. Mix well and keep aside.
2. Microwave the frozen green peas for about 3 minutes till it is cooked well. keep aside.
3. Marinate the chicken breast tenderloins with dried oregano, 1 teaspoon olive oil and black pepper. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then grill the chicken. Let it cool to room temperature. Cut the chicken breast to bite size pieces and keep aside.
4. In another pan heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil. When the oil gets hot add the finely chopped garlic to this. Saute garlic till it is light brown. Add the red pepper flakes to this and saute few more minutes.
5. Add the thin sliced red onions to this and saute till they are soft add the chopped chicken pieces and the cooked green peas to this. Mix well and saute few minutes. Turn off heat add the prepared penne pasta to this and mix well.

Serve hot.

Dry Prawns Fry ( Unakka Chemmeen Varuthathu)

Overview
Drying prawns is a way to preserve it and it can be stored in an air tight container for long time. Since there is plenty of prawns in Kerala drying and using it year round is very common. This is a delicious side dish with dried prawns which is very common in Kerala. I got to make this with my mother on my last visit to Kerala. This is simple and tasty recipe which can be made quick with dried prawns.

Dry Prawns Fry (Unakka Chemmeen Varuthathu)

Ingredients
Dried prawns cleaned( head,tail and legs removed) - 1 cup
Shallot - 1 tablespoon finely chopped
Garlic - 1 tablespoon finely chopped
Turmeric powder 1/3 teaspoon
Crushed red pepper flakes - 1 tablespoon
Curry leaves - 2  - 3 sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1. In a pan dry fry the cleaned prawns till they are roasted and crisp. Remove the dry roasted prawns to a dish and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in the same pan. When the oil gets hot add the finely chopped shallots and garlic to this and saute till the onions are light brown.
3. Add the turmeric powder and the crushed red pepper flakes and saute few more minutes. Add the curry leaves and fry for a minute then add the roasted prawns to this  and mix well. Add salt as needed