Einstein’s old barbecue pasta recipe revisited
Q: This is a (way) oldie, but a goodie from Einstein's restaurant on Juniper. They had a fabulous dish years ago with pasta, chicken, BBQ sauce, black beans, green onions, etc. I fell in love with it. They took it off the menu years ago, and I've never been able to replicate it. I would love to have the recipe to make it at home. Can you help? — Kathleen Smith, Atlanta
A: Ken Storr of Metrotainment Cafes, owners of Einstein's as well as eight other restaurant concepts, including Cowtippers, Guaco Joe's, Hudson Grill, Joe's on Juniper, and Sugar Shack, dug way back into the files to find this recipe. In its day, this recipe made one portion. We've suggested it's enough for at least two. The restaurant did not supply the recipe for the barbecue sauce, so the dish you make at home may not match the one that lingers in Smith's memory.
Einstein’s BBQ Pasta
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
3 cups cooked penne pasta
1 cup shredded mozzarella-cheddar mix
6 ounces cooked chicken breast, sliced
1/2 cup fried tortilla strips
1/4 cup chopped tomato
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons sliced green onion
In a large saucepan, combine beans and barbecue sauce and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add pasta to barbecue sauce mixture and toss to combine. Divide between two serving bowls. Layer cheese, chicken and tortilla strips on top of pasta mixture. Garnish with tomatoes, cilantro and green onion and serve. Serves: 2
Per serving: 938 calories (percent of calories from fat, 25), 58 grams protein, 117 grams carbohydrates, 17 grams fiber, 26 grams fat (12 grams saturated), 104 milligrams cholesterol, 1,220 milligrams sodium.
