Asparagus Pasta With Mint Pesto Food

ASPARAGUS PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound trimmed asparagus in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to ice water to cool; drain and pat dry, then roughly chop. Puree the asparagus in a food processor with 1 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh mint, 1/3 cup toasted unsalted pistachios, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil and puree until smooth. Toss with 1 pound cooked pasta and 3/4 cup parmesan, adding pasta cooking water as needed to loosen.

ASPARAGUS NOODLES WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus stalks. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the asparagus into thin wide ribbons. (The last strip of asparagus will be a little thicker than the others but it¿s fine to use.)
• Pulse the basil, parsley, pine nuts, capers, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a food processor until coarsely ground. With the machine running, drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil and process until the pesto is mostly smooth.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus noodles, red pepper flakes and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the asparagus is tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the arugula and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; add the pesto and 1 tablespoon water and toss to coat. Stir in the lemon zest and season with salt. Top with more zest.

ASPARAGUS AND PISTACHIO PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Trim the tough ends from the asparagus. Store half of the spears upright in a glass filled halfway with water to keep it fresh for a few days or until ready to serve. Chop the remaining asparagus and place it in a food processor. Add the mint, parsley, tarragon, cheese, pistachios, garlic and lime juice. Add the EVOO, pouring to a count of 6 (1/3 to 1/2 cup). Season with salt and pepper. Pulse until the pesto comes together. Place in a small container and store in the refrigerator if not using immediately.
• To serve, bring the pesto to room temperature and place it in a large, shallow serving bowl. Slice the reserved asparagus spears on an angle into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta and season with salt. Cook the pasta for 5 minutes, then add the peas and chopped asparagus and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. Scoop out 1 cup of the cooking water and add it to the serving bowl to thin the pesto. Drain the pasta, peas and asparagus and add to the bowl. Toss 1 to 2 minutes to combine. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with the shaved cheese.
• Cook's Note: The pesto can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

SPRING PESTO PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add asparagus. Cook for 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl of ice water. Let cool, then drain.
• Bring the same pot of water back up to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 11 minutes, or until al dente. Then drain, reserving about 1/4 cup of cooking water.
• In a large bowl, combine pasta, asparagus, and basil pesto. Toss until pasta is evenly coated with pesto. If the sauce is too thick, begin pouring in some reserved pasta water (about 2 tablespoons at a time) until the sauce reaches desired consistency. Add chives, lemon zest, and mozzarella, and stir until just combined.
• Divide pasta into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese. If eating immediately, serve hot. You can also serve it cold or at room temperature as a delicious vegetarian pasta salad.

LINGUINE WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Snap off and discard ends of asparagus. Cut off top two inches of spears and reserve. Chop rest of spears and put in food processor with garlic, processing until very finely minced. With the machine running, drizzle in olive oil. Add 1/2 cup cheese and pulse. Transfer mixture to a bowl, fold in lemon zest, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook about 6 minutes, until not quite al dente. Add asparagus spears to the pot and cook another 1 to 2 minutes, until pasta is al dente.
• Spoon 1/4 cup pasta water into a large skillet. Drain pasta and asparagus tips and add to skillet along with asparagus mixture and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring with tongs, 3 minutes or so, until ingredients are well blended. Check seasonings. Transfer to 4 warm plates, scatter with oregano and serve with extra cheese.

ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO PASTA WITH RICOTTA-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Toast crumbs in 2 teaspoons oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until brown, 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in zest, salt, and pepper flakes; set aside.
• Process mint, ricotta, 1/4 cup oil, lemon juice, Parmesan, pine nuts, salt, and black pepper for the pesto in a food processor; set aside.
• Saute prosciutto in 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over med-high heat until crisp, 3-4 minutes.
• Remove to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
• Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil; add the asparagus and boil 2-3 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to a bowl of ice water, then drain.
• Saute asparagus in same skillet used for prosciutto, 5 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with wine and reduce until evaporated; set aside.
• Cook pasta according to package directions in the same water used to boil the asparagus; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
• Combine the pasta with pesto and reserved pasta water in the pasta pot, then transfer to a serving bowl.
• Top pasta with asparagus, prosciutto, and bread crumb mixture.

CAMPANELLE WITH PISTACHIO-MINT PESTO, ASPARAGUS, AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse 1/2 cup mint, pistachios, cheese, garlic, and zest with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until finely chopped. Add oil; pulse until a loose paste forms.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water 5 minutes. Add asparagus; cook until crisp-tender and pasta is al dente, about 3 minutes more. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Let cool 10 minutes.
• In a serving bowl, combine pasta and asparagus with pesto and tomatoes. Toss with 1/4 cup pasta water, adding more, a few tablespoons at a time, until sauce evenly coats pasta. Serve, topped with remaining mint, chopped pistachios, cheese, and a drizzle of oil.