Spicy Double Chicken & Mushroom Wholewheat Arrabbiata With Basil

Before you start cooking, take your chicken out of the fridge, open the packet and let it air

Boil a kettle

Slice your white cup mushrooms roughly

Peel and finely chop your shallot[s]

Peel and slice (don't chop!) your garlic

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

Once hot, add the chopped mushrooms and cook for 4-5 min or until browned

Add the chopped shallot and cook for a further 1-2 min or until slightly softened

(Doubled your protein? Use 2 pans!)

Push the mushrooms and shallot to one side of the pan

Add your chicken with a pinch of salt and cook for 1-2 min on each side or until lightly browned

Once lightly browned, add the sliced garlic 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 tomato paste, chicken stock mix and a pinch of sugar with 100ml [130ml] [170ml] boiled water

Season with a pinch of salt and pepper

Cover with a lid and bring to the boil over a high heat, and 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 pasta to a pot of boiled water and bring to the boil over a high heat

Cook the pasta for 7-9 min (10-12 min for wholewheat) or until cooked with a slight bite

Once done, drain the pasta and return to the pot

Whilst the pasta is cooking, grate your Italian hard cheese

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 pasta

Tear in half your basil (save the rest for garnish!) 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!