Lunch: Grilled-Chicken Pasta Salad with Artichoke Hearts

Using canned artichoke hearts cuts the preparation time for this salad way down. They are surprisingly good; just be sure to rinse them thoroughly to get rid of any extra acidity or "tinny" taste.

Ingredients

3 boneless
7 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
3/4 lb. fusilli
1 1/4 c. canned
3 scallions including green tops
1/4 c. Chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 tbsp. red-wine vinegar
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Light the grill or heat the broiler. Coat the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Grill or broil until just done, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the fusilli until just done, about 13 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain thoroughly. In a large bowl, toss the pasta with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Add the chicken, artichoke hearts, scallions, parsley, the remaining 5 tablespoons oil, the vinegar, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the Parmesan to the pasta and toss well.
Wine Recommendation: Artichokes can be tough on wine since they tend to make even the driest ones taste sweet. To counteract this tendency, try an acidic white wine such as a Sancerre from France (made from sauvignon blanc grapes) or a sauvignon blanc from northern Italy.

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