Linguine With Leeks Prosciutto Lemon Food

LINGUINE WITH LEEKS, PROSCIUTTO & LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for cooking the pasta. Chop the trimmed prosciutto fat, if using, and put it in a large skillet with the butter. Heat over medium until the butter is melted and the fat is translucent. Add the leeks, season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add the prosciutto, stirring to distribute, and then add the cream. Reduce the heat to low and let heat gently, uncovered, while you cook the pasta until just tender. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta, leaving drops of water clinging to it. Add the pasta and half of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet. Stir in the lemon zest and juice; season abundantly with black pepper. Heat gently for a few minutes to let the pasta drink up the sauce, adding more pasta cooking water if needed to thin it. Add the walnuts and taste for salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH LEEKS, PEAS, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot.
• While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium. Add leeks; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add peas; cook, stirring, until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To drained pasta, add leek mixture, remaining 3 tablespoons butter, lemon juice, and prosciutto; season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time, tossing, until a thin sauce coats pasta. (You may not need all the water.) Serve, sprinkled with ricotta salata.

LEEK AND PROSCIUTTO PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat with enough olive oil and butter to cover the bottom well. Add the leeks and garlic and stir to coat. Stir in the thyme, optional porcini seasoning, wine, broth, and a good grind of pepper and continue to cook until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low, lay the prosciutto slices over the mixture, cover the pan, and cook at a low simmer until the leeks are tender and there's still a bit of liquid in the pan, 25-30 minutes. (Add a bit more broth or water if necessary.) Cook the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is almost done, remove the prosciutto from the pan, cut into julienne slices, and return to the pan. Over low heat, swirl another piece of butter into the sauce, season to taste with salt (and additional pepper if necessary), and stir in half the Parmesan. Serve the pasta topped with the sauce and the rest of the Parmesan. Serves 2.

LEMON LINGUINE WITH SPINACH AND CRISPY PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• In large pot, cook linguine according to package directions, al dente.
• Meanwhile, in large, deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add shallots, sun-dried tomatoes and grated lemon zest and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
• Add garlic paste and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
• Add prosciutto and cook, about 2 minutes, until crisp.
• Drain linguine, add to skillet along with lemon juice, salt and pepper, tossing over medium heat to combine.
• Place spinach in large bowl.
• Add hot linguine mixture to spinach, tossing to combine.
• Stir in pine nuts.
• Garnish with cheese.