Lemon And Broad Bean Pasta Food

BROAD BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the beans for 3 mins until just tender. Remove to a bowl of ice-cold water using a slotted spoon to halt the cooking process.
• Set the pan back on the heat, tip in the pasta and cook following pack instructions. Meanwhile, pop the beans out of their skins so you're left with the bright green beans, and set aside. (This is optional, but the colour, texture and flavour is improved. Discard the skins.)
• Heat a small, dry frying pan over a medium heat and fry the pancetta for 5-7 mins until crisp and golden. Drain the broad beans and add to the pancetta along with the lemon zest and mint. Squeeze over one of the lemon halves and season well. Cook for 1-2 mins to warm through, then remove from the heat.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of the water, then return to the pan along with the pancetta and broad bean mixture, the ricotta and a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water. Mix together, adding more of the reserved water if needed to create a slightly glossy sauce. Divide the pasta between bowls, squeeze over the remaining lemon half and scatter with the parmesan, if you like.

PAPPARDELLE BROAD BEAN CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. While the water boils, heat a frying pan and sizzle the pancetta for 8 mins until crisp, then throw the broad beans into the pan with the pancetta fat. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks with the cream and mustard, then season with lots of black pepper.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain the pasta, saving some of the water, and toss through the pancetta in the frying pan. Tip in the egg and cream mix, and stir to coat, adding a splash of the reserved water, if needed. Toss half of the grated Parmesan through, so the sauce clings to the pasta, then scatter with the remaining Parmesan.

ASPARAGUS, BROAD BEAN & SMOKED SALMON PASTA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pan, then fry the spring onions for 1 minute, until softened. Add the wine and boil hard to reduce to about 2 tbsp. Stir in the crème fraîche, season well and add the nutmeg. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in the dill, if using, and squeeze in a little lemon juice. Set aside.
• Blanch the shelled broad beans in boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes. Drain into a sieve and hold under running cold water to cool. Drain again and peel off the outer hard skin - make a nick in the tops and pop the beans out.
• Trim the asparagus - if it's young, it won't need much cut off the stems. Cut into halves or thirds. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water as per pack instructions, adding the asparagus 3 minutes before the end of cooking time. Cook until "al dente".
• Drain well, reserving a little pasta water. Toss the hot pasta and asparagus with the drained broad beans, smoked salmon and sauce, loosening with a spoonful or two of pasta water, if necessary. The heat of the pasta should reheat the sauce and slightly cook the smoked salmon, but stir over a gentle heat to warm through if necessary. Serve immediately.

WHITE BEAN PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet (preferably straight-sided) over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir, then cook undisturbed in an even layer until one side is golden, about 4 minutes. (It's great if the butter browns, but decrease the heat if it threatens to get too dark.) Stir in the asparagus, carrot and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas, scallions and ½ teaspoon salt, then add the red-pepper flakes, oregano and a generous amount of black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the peas are warmed through and bright green, about 2 minutes.
• Add the white beans and the cream, lower the heat to medium, and let the cream come to a simmer. Simmer for about 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, Parmesan and Dijon. Taste and season with more salt, pepper or lemon juice as needed. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of warm water to the creamy beans to loosen as you like; the sauce will thicken as it cools. (You may need more water when you reheat any leftovers.) Serve in bowls topped with the nuts and a handful of basil leaves. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

CHICKEN & BROAD BEAN TAGLIATELLE

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Put the chicken onto a roasting tray, coat with the oil, season, then grill for about 12 mins, turning halfway through the cooking time.
• Meanwhile, boil the pasta, adding the beans for the final 3 mins, then drain, reserving 150ml of the cooking water.
• Shred the cooked chicken and put into the pasta pan with the crème fraîche, lemon juice, 4 tbsp Parmesan and the reserved cooking water. Heat gently, season to taste, then stir in the parsley and pasta. Serve sprinkled with the remaining Parmesan.