Ingredients

1 lb dry (or 2 lbs fresh) spinach fettuccine

1 1/4 pound chicken breast, diced

1/2 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

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

Preparation

  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.

  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