Chicken Tequila Fettuccine

The other night, mom and I went to California Pizza Kitchen with my step brother and his wife. I asked our server what his favorites were, and when he mentioned this one it stuck. And now, it is one of MY favorites. I scarfed down the whole thing! (plus dessert) My brother asked if I were "with child"..... and just so we're clear, I'M NOT. I'm just a pig. :)

this pic is from their menu.

Within 5 minutes of getting to my brother's house, my awesome sis-in-law found a recipe for it online. I couldn't wait!  I made it tonight. It is delicious!!!! Be sure to read my * notes at the bottom for those of you concerned about the alcohol, and some other tweeks I may have made. So without further ado, here you go.

 Ingredients:

1 lb dry (or 2 lbs fresh) spinach fettuccine *

1 1/4 pound chicken breast, diced

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro reserved for garnish

2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic

2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper (seeds and veins removed)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter (reserve tablespoon for saute ) **

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons gold tequila ***

2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice

3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium of course)

1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/2 medium yellow bell pepper thinly sliced

1/2 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Boil salted water to cook pasta; cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry pasta, approximately 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then reheated in boiling water.

2. Cook 1/3 cup cilantro, garlic and jalapeno in 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes.

3. Add stock, tequila and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste like consistency; set aside.

4. Pour soy sauce over diced chicken; set aside for 5 minutes.

5. Meanwhile cook onion and peppers, stirring occasionally, with remaining butter over medium heat. When the vegetables have become limp, add chicken and soy sauce; toss and add reserved tequila/lime paste and cream.

Doesn't this look beautifully delicious!?

 6. Bring the sauce to a boil; boil until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick (about 3 minutes).

7. Toss with drained spinach fettuccine and reserved cilantro, and squeeze a lil more lime if desired.

Not as pretty as their picture... but you get the idea.

* Noodles. Walmart did not have the spinach noodles. (go figure) So I used the regular. Still delicious, but I really like the spinach noodles.

** Canola oil can be used to sautee, instead of butter. Keeps it a little bit healthier.

*** Alcohol. Even though the alcohol will be cooked out of it, if by personal choice you don't want to use it, comments on the recipe said it was still delicious without it. Plus, if no one in your household is a drinker, it'd be an expensive purchase to only use 2 Tbsp of a whole bottle. So up to you.