Chicken Marvalasala and Pappardelle with Rosemary Gravy

Ingredients

• 3/4-pound pappardelle pasta (wide ribbons, substitute fettuccine if unavailable)
• Salt
• 4 large, thin pieces boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets
• Ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced
• 12 shiitakes, stemmed and sliced
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste, look for this in a tube (it's easy to store that way)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock, eyeball it
• 2 tablespoons minced rosemary leaves, a couple of sprigs
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 1/2 cup Marsala wine
• Grated pecorino Romano cheese
• A couple handfuls arugula or baby spinach leaves, thinly sliced

Directions

Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it comes up to a boil, salt the water, drop in the pasta, and cook to al dente.

While the pasta is working, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium to medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and brown lightly on both sides; remove to a platter and cover with foil to hold in heat. To the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons more extra-virgin olive oil and 1 clove garlic. Cook garlic a minute or so, then remove and add the mushrooms. Let the mushrooms brown evenly and become tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

While the mushrooms work, start gravy for pasta. In a deep medium skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add a clove of crushed garlic and cook a couple of minutes then remove. Whisk flour and tomato paste into garlic infused butter. Cook the flour a minute or 2 then whisk in the stock. Add rosemary and whisk in tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer to thicken, 5 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to your taste.

To the cooked mushrooms, add capers and Marsala and reduce a minute or so. Add 2 tablespoons butter in small bits to finish sauce and shake the pan to incorporate. Slide the chicken back into sauce and warm.

Drain pasta and toss with sauce and a handful of cheese. Serve pasta alongside Chicken Marvalasala. Scatter arugula or spinach across both the chicken and pasta, to garnish.