Garden Primavera with Ham or Chicken

Garden Primavera with Ham or Chicken

The word Primavera means “Spring Style” in Italian.The vegetables used in making a Primavera are Spring or seasonal vegetables that are blanched. This is a very economical dish, not only because your using vegetables in season ( or that you froze from last years garden) but because the protein you can use in the recipe (cooked chicken or cooked ham) can be leftovers from a previous dinner. I’m all about making that dollar stretch when it comes to meals. 

Can I use leftover cooked chicken or ham to make this dish?

Absolutely you can! Next time you throw chicken on the grill, grill an extra piece or two and set it aside to make this recipe.  Use the leftovers from a store bought rotisserie chicken. Use left over baked chicken.  Do you have a piece of cooked ham in the freezer leftover from a holiday dinner, cut it up and use it. If you aren’t partial to meat, omit the meat all together, this is a hearty satisfying dinner without it.

What can I substitute the pasta in the recipe for?

You can substitute the pasta in the recipe for rice or Zoodles if you’re on a gluten free diet. The two tablespoons of flour in the sauce could also be substituted for gluten free flour for any one sensitive to gluten or one a gluten free diet.

Now that we have the questions under our belt, let’s get busy and make this delicious dinner! Let’s gather the ingredients.

Garden Primavera with Ham or Chicken Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) green beans, cut in half
• 1 cup fresh carrots, sliced thin
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 12 ounces Fettuccine
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese, more to top to serve if desired
• 1/3 cup cooked ham or chicken, cut into thin strips
• 2 Teaspoons fresh or dried Basil

Getting The Vegetables and Pasta Ready For The Dish

We start the recipe by placing the green beans and carrots in a large saucepan with a small amount of salted boiling water for about 10 minutes. Add the broccoli and red peppers and bring the water back up to boiling, then reduce the heat. Cover and cook the vegetables for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are crisp, but tender. Drain the vegetables and set aside.

While the vegetables are cooking, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta after it’s done cooking and add it to the vegetables you’ve already cooked. Keep the pasta and vegetables warm while you make the sauce.

How To Make The Sauce

Melt the butter in a medium size saucepan, when it’s hot and bubbly add the onions and garlic. Cook the ingredients for about five minutes until tender, but not browned. Stir the chicken broth into the pan, bring the mixture up to a boil, then reduce the heat. Whisk the flour and cream together in a small bowl. Add the cream mixture to the chicken broth. Cook and stir until the mixture is thick and bubbly. 

Putting The Dish Together

Add the Parmesan Cheese, Basil and cooked ham or chicken pieces, (which ever your using) to the sauce. Cook and stir for one minute. Pour the sauce over the pasta and vegetables and toss to combine them. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of Parmesan Cheese over each plate if desired.

Garden Primavera with Ham or Chicken, it’s what’s for dinner and it’s delicious!

PIN IT FOR LATER

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Garden Primavera With Ham or Chicken

This is a vegetable packed dinner that has many options as far as vegetables that can be used to make it. Making it with either cooked ham , cooked chicken or leaving the meat out entirely adds more versatility to the dish.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Course: dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: #chicken, ham, pasta, vegetables

Servings: 4

Author: Mary Malone

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh or frozen thawed green beans, cut in half
• 1 cup fresh carrots sliced thin
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 12 ounces fettuccine 1 package
• 1 red pepper sliced thin
• 1 medium size onion cut into wedges
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese more to top serving with if desired
• 1/3 cup cooked ham cut into thin strips, or left over cooked grilled chicken or a rotisserie chicken
• 2 Teaspoons fresh or dried basil

Instructions

• In a large saucepan cook green beans and carrots in a small amount of salted boiling water for about 10 minutes. Add the broccoli and red peppers, bring up to a boil then reduce the heat. Cover and cook 5 minutes until vegetables are crisp but tender. Drain the vegetables.
• While the vegetables are cooking,cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta after it's done and add the vegetables you already cooked to the pasta, keep warm while you make the sauce.

For the sauce

• Melt the butter in a medium size saucepan, when it's hot and bubbly add the onions and garlic, cook for about 5 minutes until tender but not browned. Stir in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat.
• In a small bowl whisk the cream and flour together. Add the cream mixture the chicken broth. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Add the Parmesan cheese, basil and ham. Cook and stir 1 minute. Pour sauce over the pasta and vegetables, toss to combine. Serve immediately. Sprinkle more Parmesan over individual servings if desired.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see your pictures on Instagram! Mention @bunnyswarmoven or tag #bunnyswarmoven!

Looking for more Primavera recipes, try these from other bloggers…Penne Pasta Primavera…Easy Chicken Pasta Primavera