Spicy Chicken & Mushroom Arrabbiata With Crispy Basil

Boil a kettle

Slice your chestnut mushrooms roughly

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a small drizzle of olive oil over a medium-high heat

Once hot, add your chicken breast strips to the pan and cook for 1-2 min on each side or until lightly browned

While the chicken is browning, peel and slice (don't chop!) your garlic

Once lightly browned, add the sliced garlic, sliced mushrooms, and your chilli flakes (can't handle the heat? Go easy!) to the pan and cook for 1-2 min or until fragrant

Once fragrant, add your chopped tomatoes and chicken stock mix with a pinch of salt and pepper

Cover with a lid and bring to the boil over a high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 12-14 min or until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through (no pink meat!)

Whilst your sauce is cooking, add your farfalle to a pot of boiled water and bring to the boil over a high heat

Cook the farfalle for 8-10 min or until cooked with a slight bite

Once done, drain the farfalle and return to the pot

Whilst the pasta is cooking, grate your Italian hard cheese

Cover a small bowl tightly with cling film then add a small drizzle of vegetable oil to a plate, tear off a few leaves of your basil (save the rest for later!) and lightly coat the basil leaves in the oil

Add the coated basil leaves to the top of the cling film, then add another layer of cling film over the basil leaves and poke a few holes with a fork (this is to release steam!)

Put the bowl in the microwave for 2-3 min or until the leaves are crispy and slightly transparent – these are your basil crisps

Once the chicken cooked, transfer the cooked chicken to a clean board and shred it apart, using two forks – this technique is known as 'pulling'

Return the pulled chicken to the pan and add the drained farfalle

Tear in the remaining basil with half the grated Italian hard cheese (you'll use the rest later!)

Gently stir it all together until the pasta is coated in the sauce – this is your spicy chicken & mushroom arrabbiata

Tip: Add a splash of water if your sauce is looking a little dry!