Gemelli Pasta With Fennel Juice Broccoli And Oven Dried Tomatoes Food

GEMELLI WITH PESTO, POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; add the beans during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain. Set the pot aside.
• Meanwhile, pierce the potatoes all over with a fork. Microwave until tender, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, then chop.
• Heat the olive oil in the reserved pot over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the pasta and green beans and stir to coat. Remove from the heat and add the pesto, lemon zest and 1/4 cup reserved cooking water; toss to coat, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt and pepper.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees. Remove tomato stems and cut the tomatoes in half at the poles. Salt and pepper the cut sides then place tomatoes cut-side down on a rack in a broiler pan. Brush the tops (the skin side) liberally with olive oil, then add salt and pepper. Place tomatoes in oven. Cook slowly for 12 hours, brushing the skins with olive oil every 2 hours to prevent the skins from drying out. When done, let tomatoes come to room temperature. For the dressing: Put the vinegar in a bowl and slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil until the dressing thickens. Add the olives and the garlic clove. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well and let stand for 1-2 hours. To serve: Place 3 tomato halves on each of 8 plates. Remove garlic from dressing and divide dressing among the plates, pouring over and around the tomatoes. Scatter the fennel strips on top of the tomatoes and finish with a touch of chervil.;

GEMELLI WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Salt the water and cook gemelli to al dente (with a bite to it), about 9 minutes.
• Grind drained roasted peppers in a food processor.
• Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and shallots to the pan. Saute garlic and shallots 3 minutes, stir in roasted peppers. Saute pepper paste 2 minutes, stir in wine or chicken stock, reduce liquid for 1 or 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and parsley. Season sauce with salt and pepper and simmer until ready to serve.
• Toss hot pasta with sauce and transfer to a serving dish. Pass grated Romano and crusty bread at table.

BUCATINI WITH MUSSELS, CLAMS AND OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Debeard mussels. Soak mussels and clams in tap water for 5 minutes. Rinse and drain. Repeat 2 more times. Reserve.
• In a saute pan, heat the butter and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until glossy, do not brown.
• Over high heat, add mussels and clams. Deglaze with white wine and reduce by half. Add clam juice and bay leaf, cover, and steam until shellfish opens, about 3 minutes. Pull out shellfish and reserve. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
• Reduce the liquid by half, add tomatoes, cooked pasta, reserved shellfish, and parsley. Toss until well blended. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a pot of boiling water, blanch tomatoes. Drain and refresh in ice water. Drain. Peel, core, cut into quarters, and remove seeds.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the tomato quarters on the tray, cut side down. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with thyme and garlic. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and sugar, and sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes.
• Bake until the tomatoes begin to shrivel, about 1 hour. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, transfer to a container. Pour olive oil over and cover the container. Refrigerate and use as needed.

PASTA WITH ROASTED FENNEL AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange fennel halves cut side down in 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Drizzle with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Roast until fennel is light brown and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool. Cut fennel into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are tender, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, oregano and sugar; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened to sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Add fennel and simmer 5 minutes longer. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook spaghettini in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Return pasta to same pot.
• Add sauce to pasta; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.