Butterfly Pea Flower Chicken Pasta / Blue Pasta

Ingredients:

300 gm pasta

200 gm boneless chicken, cut into small cubes

1 tbsp dried butterfly pea flowers ( Shankupushpam )

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 tbsp plain flour

1 1/2 cup milk

1/2 chicken stock cube

1/2 tsp + 1/2 tsp pepper powder

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp mixed herb

1/2 cup grated cheese

salt to taste

olive oil, as required

Preparation:

1. Heat 1-1 1/2 tbsp oil in a pan and add chicken pieces, 1/2 tsp pepper powder and salt and saute well till the chicken pieces are cooked. Keep it aside.
2. Boil water in a large pan adding butterfly pea flower and salt. Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or according to the package instructions.
3. Remove the flowers and drain the pasta and blue water separately and keep it aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a thick bottomed pan and add chopped garlic and saute. Add finely chopped onion and saute well.
5. Add plain flour and milk and mix well without any lumps.
6. Add 1 cup pasta cooked blue water and 1/2 chicken stock cube and mix well.
7. Add chilli flakes, oregano, mixed herb, 1/2 tsp pepper powder and salt and mix well and cook until it thickens.
8. Add grated cheese into this and stir well.
9. Then add cooked chicken pieces and mix well.
10. Add cooked pasta and mix till well combined.
11. Switch off the flame and serve hot...