Recipe: Garlicky Pasta Chicken Salad (with rosemary-scented olive oil, using cooked chicken)

GARLICKY PASTA CHICKEN SALAD

"The large amount of garlic, cooked slowly in rosemary-scented olive oil, develops superb flavor."

6 whole heads of fresh garlic
3/4 cup olive oil
4 rosemary sprigs (optional)
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
8 oz. corkscrew pasta, cooked and drained
2 cups cooked chicken, cut in strips
1/2 cup sliced green onion
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts
Lettuce leaves

Separate cloves of garlic and drop into boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and peel.

Place peeled cloves in small saucepan with oil and optional rosemary sprigs. Cook gently, covered, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until garlic is tender.

Discard rosemary sprigs and puree garlic with 1/2 cup of the olive oil, basil, and the rosemary leaves.

Place pasta in large bowl and add garlic puree, chicken, onion, Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Add more olive oil if needed to moisten salad.

Let salad sit for 1 hour a room temperature (provided its not a hot room that will invite bacteria to go nuts!) or refrigerate, returning mixture to room temperature before serving.

Stir toasted nuts into the salad and serve over a mix of crisp, chilled lettuces.

*Toast walnuts in 375 degree F oven for 10 minutes.

Makes 6 servings
Source: The Garlic Lovers' Cookbook, Volume II - The Gilroy Garlic Festival