Caprese salad is one of my favourite salads, but sometimes I feel like it needs a bit more substance. I love this pasta, because it takes (almost) all of my favourite summer ingredients & becomes a complete meal.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

500g fresh fettuccini

400g mixed cherry tomatoes, halved

150g fresh burrata cheese, room temperature

2 large, skinless, boneless chicken breasts

2 medium sized lemons, halved

2TBS olive oil

For the pesto:

1 cup packed, fresh parsley

1 cup packed, fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup lightly toasted & roughly chopped walnuts

1/3 cup pecorino cheese, grated

Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 TBS fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil

To make the pesto:

Add the herbs & walnuts to a food processor & blend on high speed until it forms a thick paste. scrape the bowl down, & add the garlic, pepper, cheese & lemon juice. Pulse on high until mixed.

With the mixer running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the oilive oil.

Once the oil is all mixed in, spoon pesto into a bowl, cover & place in the fridge until needed.

To make the chicken:

Set oven to “keep warm”

Slice chicken breast length-ways, so you have 4 thin chicken breasts. Season with salt & freshly cracked black pepper. Set aside.

Set a large frying pan to a medium high heat. Once pan is hot, add the halved lemons, cut-side down. Cook the lemons until nicely charred & golden. Remove from pan & set aside.

Using the same pan, add 3 TBS olive oil to the pan. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the chicken breast. You may need to work in batches.

When the chicken is almost cooked, squeeze on the juice of half a lemon to each piece of chicken.

Cook the chicken until golden in colour & cooked to an internal tempreature of 74 degrees C. Place in oven to keep warm.

Meanwhile, fill are large hot with salted water & bring to a boil over a high heat.

Once water is boiling, add the fettucini & cook according to packet instructions.

Warm the tomatoes in the same pan as the chicken.

To assamble:

Drain the pasta & toss in the pesto, ensuring pasta is evenly coated.

Place pasta onto plates, top with warm cherry tomatoes, chicken breast, torn burrata & extra basil leaves.

Enjoy!