After our very successful adventure into making California Rolls, M. and I decided to try something a little different for our next sushi making party. Don't get me wrong, the California Rolls are amazing. So amazing that we couldn't resist making another roll along with our new creations. We just wanted to try something a little more difficult. This led us to a shrimp tempura sushi roll. We loved this roll in our favorite little sushi restaurant, and couldn't wait to see if we could recreate it.
After tossing around a couple of ideas for other versions we wanted to try, M. brought up a chicken sushi roll. Not just any chicken, but fried orange chicken. Weird, unorthodox, but completely delicious.This went against any sort of "sushi rule" I had ever heard, but M. didn't care and he convinced me it would be amazing. And oh how amazing it was.
It's casserole time! When you are looking for some comfort food for dinner, chicken tetrazzini is where you should turn. With layers of flavor and many different textures in this baked dish, this is perfect for a busy night's dinner after work or for a night when you just need something hearty.
Begin by placing 1/4 cup of diced onions in a skillet with some melted butter. Stir occasionally until the onions begin to get translucent. I used red onion because it's what I had, but you can use any type of onion you have on hand. Then, add 1/4 cup of mushrooms in too. I used the precooked, presliced mushrooms you get in a jar, but fresh mushrooms would be even better. Just stir around until they get tender. These two elements will make this dish have an even deeper level of flavor.
Next, you will want to cook the chicken. I used my boyfriend's George Foreman grill, which is absolutely amazing at cooking all sorts of things, but feel free to use whatever method you like best. Just make sure the chicken is cooked through.
Then, slice or shred the chicken into small pieces. Add these pieces to the skillet with the onions and mushrooms. At the same time the chicken is cooking, put 1/2 pound of spaghetti pasta in boiling water. Don't forget to salt the water before you add the pasta! Cook until just al dente or still has a little bite. Add these cooked noodles directly to the skillet after it has been drained.
The next step is to add one small can of cream of mushroom soup to the mix. After stirring around all the ingredients, add in 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and continue to stir until combined. If you feel the mixture is a little thick, add 1/4 cup of beef or chicken broth. Then, pour the entire mixture into a greased baking dish. I used my banana bread pan, but use whatever size or shape of pan you can get your hands on.
I then added a little something special to the top of the dish. I melted two tablespoons of butter and mixed it with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. I then sprinkled this mixture all over the top of the caserole. Believe me, this delicious topping will absolutely make your dish! Put the chicken tetrazzini in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
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