Creamy Kale and Chicken Pasta AKA “Hulk Pasta”

Calling it Hulk pasta got it over the line for our 4 year old who ended up demolishing this once he got the courage up to give it a go.

We love this because it is an easy way to boost the greens and use kale which is in season and very affordable (a large bunch cost us $2.50). The sauce its also a powerhouse puree for babies- so you could serve this to your little one (suitable from 4 months/as long as they have had dairy and introduced already) before mixing it through the pasta.

Allergens: dairy- this recipe has ricotta cheese and parmesan.

Age: For 4+ months

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of kale (cut the leaves off the wordy stalk and set side)

• 2 chicken breasts

• 3 garlic cloves

• 300g ricotta or cottage cheese

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 50g Parmesan

• 1 lemon

• Olive oil

• Salt

• Pepper

• 1 bunch asparagus - finely diced

• 1 zucchini - finely diced

• Pasta of choice

• Fresh chilli or chilli oil for the adults at the table- makes it 10/10 on the flavour scale

Method:

• Heat a pot of water on the stove and then boil your kale for 3 minutes. Remove and pop into an ice path (we used a bowl with water and an ice pack in it because…we had no ice!) This locks in the colour.

• At your chicken into your boiled water and cook for 10-15 minutes until cooked though. Remove and allow to cool before shredding.

• Empty out your water and add 1 tsp of olive oil into your pot. Move add your zucchini and asparagus and cool until soft. Add in your garlic and cook for a further 1-2 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in your peas. If you are serving to a babies under 1 I would from mash these.

• Let’s make the sauce- add your kale, ricotta, parmesan, 1 tbs olive oil and 1 tbs water into a blender. Blend until smooth.

• Now we combine. Mix everything together in a bowl.

• Add the zest from 1 small lemon and juice from 1/2 a lemon

• Salt and pepper to taste

Now, you can put this in the fridge ahead of time and simply stir through your pasta when you’re ready to eat! This freezes really well too.

We add chilli oil or fresh chilli to the adults bowls.

Enjoy!