Gemelli With Kale Pesto And Olives 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.

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.

KALE PESTO

Steps:

• Put the pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, oils, kale and lemon juice in a food processor and whizz to a paste. Season to taste. Stir through hot pasta to serve, topping with extra Parmesan and olive oil, if you like.
• To store, put in a container or jar, cover the surface with a little more olive oil and keep in the fridge for a week, or freeze for up to a month.

GEMELLI ''TWIN'' PASTA WITH BROCCOLI RABE PESTO

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add bread crumbs and cook, stirring until butter is absorbed and bread crumbs are toasted. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Prepare and ice-water bath; set aside. Season boiling water generously with salt and return to a boil. Add broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to water bath to cool. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces, separating leaves and florets from stems.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine broccoli rabe stems, 1/4 cup olive oil, Parmesan, pine nuts, lemon peel, and a pinch of salt. Pulse just until a smooth pesto is formed; set aside.
• Bring another large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes; drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining tablespoon oil until hot. Add garlic, red-pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt; cook until garlic is soft and translucent, about 1 minute.
• Add broccoli rabe florets and leaves to skillet along with reserved pasta cooking water; cook, stirring, until broccoli rabe is warmed through. Add pasta and pesto to skillet; season with pepper and butter. Toss to combine. Serve immediately with toasted bread crumbs and Parmesan.