Name: Creamy Chicken Penne
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 100 g chicken breast; 0.25 pcs onion; 0.25 pcs carrot; 25 g green peas; 62.5 ml cooking cream; 20 g edam cheese; 0.25 tablespoon butter; salt; 80 g penne; 0.375 l water; 0.25 teaspoon salt

Step by step process

Sauce

1
Cut the chicken breast into small pieces, peel and finely chop the onion, and finely grate the carrot so it softens quickly in the sauce and blends in discreetly.
2
Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the onion, and cook it gently over low heat for about 3 minutes until softened and translucent but not browned.
TIP:
Cook the onions over low heat only until they soften and turn translucent, not brown. This creates a delicate, slightly sweet base that works well in sauces, soups, and meat dishes.
3
Add the chicken, season it lightly with salt, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until it turns pale on all sides.
4
Stir in the grated carrot and peas, mix briefly, then pour in the cooking cream to create a smooth base for the sauce.
5
Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is fully cooked through. Finally, stir in the grated Edam cheese.
TIP:
Simmer the cream sauce gently and add the cheese only at the end in small batches. It will blend better, the sauce will stay smooth, and it will not curdle or form lumps.

Penne

6
Bring water to a boil in a large pot, salt it, and cook the penne according to the package instructions until tender but still holding their shape.
TIP:
Cook the pasta in a large amount of salted boiling water and taste it regularly as it cooks. Al dente pasta is tender on the outside but still slightly firm inside, so it won't become overcooked when mixed with the sauce.
7
Drain the cooked penne in a colander and let them stand briefly so too much water does not carry over into the sauce.

Assembly and Serving

8
Add the penne directly to the pan with the finished sauce and toss gently so all the pasta is coated in a delicate cheesy layer.
9
If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of hot pasta water, loosen it briefly over the heat, and stir again.
10
Serve immediately after cooking so the penne stay tender and the sauce remains creamy, even for younger children.