{"id":51,"date":"2026-06-22T22:28:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T22:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/?p=51"},"modified":"2026-06-22T22:28:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T22:28:29","slug":"51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/?p=51","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f\"\u00a0Cheated Chicken Puttanesca Style Pasta for Two<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\"\u270d\ufe0f\" Hello everyone!!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last two days here in the UK were\u2026 well\u2026 HOT. And not just a little bit warm. The kind of heat where you open the window, stand there for a second, and question all your life decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But funny enough, that kind of weather does something to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t slow me down. It actually gives me energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mood was set early in the morning. The sun was shining, slightly blinding at times, but also making me feel like summer has finally arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And honestly\u2026 after the last few months we\u2019ve had? Finally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So naturally, I did what I always do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went into the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now usually, that starts the same way every time. Open the fridge. Look inside. Close it. Walk away. Come back five minutes later like something new is going to magically appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But today\u2026 there was a little twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heat had already started working against me. Some of my vegetables, especially the tomatoes, were on their last leg. And I could almost hear them saying, \u201ctoday is the day\u2026 or never.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you already know me\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not letting anything go to waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now quick side story, because I can\u2019t help myself\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently I\u2019ve been on a bit of a tomato journey. Testing different types, trying new varieties, figuring out which ones actually deserve a place in my kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My partner brought home these beautiful green tomatoes from a farm. Honestly, they looked incredible. Fresh, vibrant, like they should be packed with flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then I tasted them\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was standing there thinking\u2026 really? That\u2019s it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total disappointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I\u2019m not giving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now I\u2019ve got five different types growing in my greenhouse and garden\u2026 and I am ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They just aren\u2019t ready yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anyway\u2026 back to today\u2019s plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had tomatoes that needed using, along with a few other ingredients sitting around, waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then that familiar feeling kicked in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That little spark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment where you don\u2019t quite know what you\u2019re going to cook\u2026 but you know something is about to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I stopped thinking too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And that\u2019s how this cheated Chicken Puttanesca style pasta was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yes\u2026 I am calling it cheated on purpose, because I don\u2019t want the puttanesca lovers coming for me \"\ud83d\ude04\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is exactly what cooking is for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A playground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And my friends\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And as always\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is for two people
No waste
Just flavour, balance, and something that feels good to eat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83d\uded2\" Ingredients for two<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83c\udf5d\" Pasta and base<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

200 g pasta of your choice
remember\u2026 make it yours my friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n

300 g ripe tomatoes chopped
1 red pepper sliced
100 g green beans trimmed and cut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
half a small red onion finely sliced<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83e\uded2\" Flavour elements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

30 g black olives sliced
2 tablespoons capers
2 anchovy fillets finely chopped<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 teaspoon dried oregano
pinch of chilli flakes
salt and black pepper<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83c\udf57\" Chicken<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2 chicken breasts around 300 g total
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and black pepper<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83c\udf3f\" Finish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

small handful fresh parsley chopped
optional squeeze of lemon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83c\udf73\" Method<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\"1\ufe0f\u20e3\" Start with the chicken<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Slice your chicken into thinner pieces so it cooks evenly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Season well with salt and pepper<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heat oil in a pan on medium heat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place the chicken in the pan and leave it alone for about 4 to 5 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" do not move it too much
this is how you get that golden colour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" what you are looking for
golden outside
juicy inside
firm but not dry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove and let it rest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"2\ufe0f\u20e3\" Cook pasta and green beans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bring a pot of salted water to the boil<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add pasta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After about 6 to 7 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

add green beans into the same pot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" this keeps them fresh but slightly softened<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook until pasta is ready<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before draining, save about 100 ml pasta water<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"3\ufe0f\u20e3\" Build your base<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heat olive oil in a pan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add onion and cook gently for about 5 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" you want
soft
slightly shiny
no browning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add anchovies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" watch them melt into the oil
this gives depth, not fishiness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"4\ufe0f\u20e3\" Tomatoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Add chopped tomatoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook for 10 to 15 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" you will see
they soften
release juices
start breaking down<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stir occasionally<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are building your base here<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"5\ufe0f\u20e3\" Add flavour and vegetables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Add
red pepper
olives
capers
oregano
chilli flakes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" check the sauce
peppers should soften slightly
everything should come together<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taste<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" this is your moment
add salt
add chilli
balance it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"6\ufe0f\u20e3\" Bring it all together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Add pasta and green beans into the sauce<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mix well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add a splash of pasta water<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" this creates a silky, glossy finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slice your chicken<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place it on top or mix through<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f\" Plating<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Divide between two plates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top with fresh parsley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optional squeeze of lemon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\u2728\" What you get<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A rich tomato base
Salty depth from olives and capers
Freshness from green beans
Soft sweetness from peppers
Tender chicken on top<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" not traditional
\"\ud83d\udc49\" not perfect
\"\ud83d\udc49\" but yours<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\u2728\" Closing<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Oi!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So my readers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you feel like you have cheated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well\u2026 I don\u2019t mean that literally \"\ud83d\ude04\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I hope you do<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it\u2019s not the puttanesca\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s your cheated one<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When I was writing this today, I had a little reflection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isn\u2019t it beautiful that there are so many of us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many ideas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many ways of cooking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many possibilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which means\u2026 the food creations are endless, my friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And I truly hope<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that maybe\u2026 just maybe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a few of you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

will like my creations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Till the next one, dear reader<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\ud83d\udd25\" Plates for Two \u2014 real food, real stories, real cooking<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Cheated Chicken Puttanesca Style Pasta for Two  Hello everyone!! Last two days here in the UK were\u2026 well\u2026 HOT. And not just a little bit warm. The kind of heat where you open the window, stand there for a second, and question all your life decisions. But funny enough, that kind of weather does something […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,6,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-eating-for-two","category-food","category-plates-for-two","category-recipes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions\/53"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platesfortwo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}