Palm Sunday Feast - Penne Della Palma

Our family celebrates every Sunday with a special lunch, rosary, dessert, and family movie or game night.  To celebrate Palm Sunday, it has become a tradition for me to make Penne Della Palma for lunch.

Penne Della Palma
(adapted from Father Leo Patalinghug's recipe from his now-defunct Grace Before Meals website)
Serves 3 to 4

Ingredients:
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 pound penne pasta
1 can hearts of palm
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
¼ cup parsley, minced
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs butter
½ cup brandy (Since we're Spanish, I prefer to use Sherry)
½ cup starchy pasta water
½ cup whipping cream
½ Tbs salt and pepper (or to taste)

1.  Season the chicken breast (I like the 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe's) and cook using a grill, grill pan, or saute pan. Once cool, slice into strips.

2.  Boil pasta until al dente. Drain water, but reserve ½ cup of starchy pasta water. 

3.  Drain water from palms and cut into ¼-inch pieces. 

4.  In a large pan, heat olive oil and butter, then saute garlic, parsley, tomatoes, and palm. Add cheese and breadcrumbs, and combine. 

5.  Add brandy, water, and cream. (Caution: cooking with liquor is flammable)

6.  Add pasta and chicken and mix together. Add salt and pepper to taste, and a drizzle of olive oil and a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese for more flavor.

Serve with crusty bread and a salad. 


I'm a huge fan of Fr. Leo.  As a Mestiza whose mother's family immigrated from the Philippines in the 1960s, he almost feels like part of my family.  I was blessed to meet him when he came to Garden Grove, CA in 2013 and I got both of my books autographed that day!