Cooking Time: 90 minutes
Difficulty: Easy as!
Serves: 2
• 2 beetroot
• 2 skinned & boned chicken thighs (sliced approx 1cm thick across grain of meat)
• 2 TBSPNS olive oil
• 1/4 TSPN ground cinnamon
• 3 garlic cloves (super finely chopped)
• The same amount of fresh ginger as there is garlic chopped - just visually gauge it - small knob (super finely chopped)
• 1 TBSPN toasted cumin seeds
• 2 TBSPNS toasted pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 TSPN cracked black pepper
• 1 TSPN Lucky Taco Habanero Hot Sauce
• Zest of quarter of an orange
• Juice of half lemon
• Can of crushed tomatoes
• 150ml beef stock
• Enough pappardelle for 2 people. Either store bought (and follow on-pack instructions). Or see our recipe for home-made spinach pasta
• 2 dollops of natural yoghurt (on top once served up)
• Pre-heat oven to 190ºc.
• Peel beetroot. Chop of top and tail and dice into approx 2cm cubes.
• Place the cubed beets into an oven-proof dish, cover tightly with foil and place oven for 70 minutes (or until very tender).
• Remove from the oven & cool. I often do this ahead of schedule - so i can just rip into the pasta & make it a quick mid-week dish. To save time, you could have the beets ready - even 2 days ahead and keep them in an air-tight container in the fridge until ready to use. I even cook double the amount and use the remaining beet cubes in salads or smoothies!
• Put the chicken, oil, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, hot sauce, cumin & pepper into a bowl and mix well.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over high hight.
• Add chicken mixture and lightly brown the chicken on all sides.
• Then add the beets. Mix well.
• Now add tomatoes.
• Bring to the boil.
• Add beef stock, lemon juice & orange zest.
• Turn down to a simmer.
• Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until mixture thickens. This should not be a runny sauce - more thick and syrupy.
• Taste and season with salt (or any extra Lucky Taco hot sauce if like it HAWT!).
• Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil.
• Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
• Divide pasta between 2 late bowls or plates. Generously spoon over the sauce.
• Add a dollop of natural yoghurt on top and scatter over the toasted pumpkin seeds.
• We like to have some leafy garden greens on the side with a simple lemony dressing.
• YUM YUM!