Farmers Beans And Pasta Food

FARMER'S PASTA

Steps:

• Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and saute until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a small bowl. Pour off all but 1/4 cup of the pan drippings (if necessary, add more oil to the pan drippings to equal 1/4 cup total). Reduce the heat to medium. Add 3 teaspoons of garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in all the Fontina, mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone cheeses.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until almost al dente, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. (The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.) Drain pasta and add directly into the cheese. Add the parsley, basil, and pancetta and toss to coat. Season the pasta mixture, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared dish.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. Add the bread crumbs and toss to coat. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta mixture. Drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil and bake until the sauce bubbles and the bread crumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

HERBED FAVA BEANS WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fava beans and cook 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water; let cool about 5 minutes (keep the pot of water boiling). Drain the beans, then peel off their skins (they should slip right off). Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• Heat the olive oil, garlic, mint sprigs, parsley sprigs and all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the scallions are soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the favas and 1 cup of the reserved cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the favas are tender and the liquid is slightly reduced, 8 to 10 minutes; discard the garlic and herb sprigs.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and cook, tossing until it absorbs some of the sauce, about 3 minutes. Stir in the butter, chopped mint and parsley, reserved scallions, and salt and pepper to taste. Add more cooking water to loosen, if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Tip: If you can't find fresh fava beans, use frozen shelled and skinned ones and blanch as directed.

PASTA E FAGIOLI AKA PASTA AND BEANS (AND A LITTLE RANT ABOUT USING QUALITY INGREDIENTS)

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to the directions on the package until it is almost al dente (a little hard, not completely cooked). Remove some water, (but reserve to use later, if needed); I usually try to make the water level with the pasta.
• Add the beans.
• Now add the pasta sauce. If it's too dry, add some of the reserved pasta water.
• Stir thoroughly, and just let the pasta start to come to a boil, then remove from heat. Ladle into serving bowls, add grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, if desired, and dinner is served!

WHITE BEANS WITH CABBAGE, PASTA, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Add the cabbage, bring back to a boil and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes; use a slotted spoon or small strainer to fish it out. Drain, and let sit. (You can shock it in a bowl of ice water to keep it on the crisp side but I prefer it soft.) When the water returns to a boil, add the pasta and cook until tender but firm; start checking after 7 minutes. Drain, reserving at least 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Return the pot to medium heat (no need to rinse it) and add the oil. When it is hot, add the leeks, celery and a heavy pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the thyme and prosciutto and stir until fragrant, just a minute or 2.
• Add the cabbage, beans and pasta. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta or bean cooking liquid and cook, stirring once in a while, until the flavors blend and everything is hot, about 5 minutes more. If the mixture dries out, add a little liquid; it should be saucy but not soupy.
• Sprinkle with the cheese and toss to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve, passing more cheese at the table.

PASTA AND BEANS (PASTA E FAGIOLI)

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the oil, garlic, and hot pepper flakes over medium-low heat. As soon as the garlic begins to color, add the tomatoes and salt. With a wooden spoon, break up the larger pieces of tomato. Increase the heat slightly and sizzle for about 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked beans and enough bean water to cover. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta and simmer gently over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add reserved pasta water if necessary.

FRESH PASTA WITH FAVAS, TOMATOES, AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add next 3 ingredients. Sauté until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes. Add sausages; break up with fork. Sauté until brown, about 3 minutes. Add wine; simmer 1 minute, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes and fava beans. Sauté until tomatoes soften, about 5 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to same pot.
• Add sauce to pasta. Toss over medium heat until sauce coats pasta, adding reserved cooking liquid as needed if dry, about 2 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons cheese. Transfer pasta to bowl. Serve, passing additional cheese.

PASTA WITH BEANS AND SPINACH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook pasta until just tender.
• Ladle 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid into bowl and reserve.
• Drain pasta.
• Saute onion& garlic in oil, then add 1 T water to skillet& cook over medium heat until onion is golden and tender, stirring often.
• Add 1 c reserved pasta cooking liquid, spinach& tomatoes to skillet.
• Cover& cook until spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.
• Add cannellini beans& pasta.
• Cover& cook until heated, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in cheese& season with salt& pepper.

FAST AND EASY - FRANKS AND BEANS PASTA

Steps:

• Put pasta into boiling water to cook for the time suggested on the packet.
• Meanwhile fry off the onions and mushrooms in a pan until the onions just start to turn brown.
• Add chopped hot dogs to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the hot dog bits are heated through.
• Add the beans and heat through.
• Stir in the can of soup and the spices and stir until the soup is heated through.
• Drain the cooked pasta and add to the pan. Toss until the sauce mixture has fully coated the pasta.
• Put into bowls and sprinkle with cheese.

RAW TOMATO AND GREEN BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes less than package instructions, then add beans and cook until just tender. Drain and return to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, oil, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add pasta, beans, and half the feta and herbs; toss to combine and season. Serve warm or at room temperature. Sprinkle with remaining feta and herbs.