Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

[kirra]

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

With the addition of pasta, chicken, and plenty of garlic, the salad moves up the culinary ranks from an entree sidekick into a full-blown lunch, or even a light dinner. Summer picnickers bring your breath mints.

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 lb. package extra-wide pasta noodles, cooked
1 head Romaine lettuce, chopped into 2-inch pieces
1 red onion, chopped
1 lb. mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing:

1T anchovy paste
1/2 c. fresh garlic, chopped
3 T white wine vinegar
2 T. Dijon mustard
1 t salt
1 t black pepper
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 c. olive oil
1/2 c. vegetable oil

Preparation:

Grill chicken breasts until fully cooked; cut into pieces.

Cool cooked pasta under cold running water and drain well.

In a large bowl, combine chicken, pasta, lettuce, onion, mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese.

For dressing, combine anchovy paste, garlic, wine vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a separate bowl using a hand mixer. Blend until garlic is pureed. Slowly add oils while still mixing.

Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Serves 8–10.