Mediterranean Basil Pasta Food

TOMATO-BASIL SPAGHETTI WITH BLACKENED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pat chicken breasts dry and season with kosher salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the oregano, coriander, paprika and nutmeg. Apply the spice mixture to chicken breasts on both sides.
• In an oven-safe skillet, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil until shimmering but not smoking. Add chicken and brown deeply on both sides (about 4 to 5 minutes in total) Turn heat off. Add 1/4 cup water and lemon juice.
• Transfer chicken to the 400 degrees F-heated oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning over once. (Chicken is ready when internal temperature in its thickest part reads 165 degrees F. )
• While chicken is baking, cook spaghetti according to package. Mine took about 9 minutes in boiling water with a dash of salt. Drain in a large colander. Set aside briefly.
• In a large heavy cooking skillet, heat 1/2 cup olive oil. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes, tomatoes, garlic, and chopped green onions. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on medium-high. Now add white wine and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, allowing the sauce to reduce a little, then reduce heat to medium, cover and let simmer for 7-10 minutes or until tomatoes sofetn and turn a nice rusty orange.
• Now, add cooked spaghetti to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. When pasta heats through, toss in the basil leaves, Parmesigiano Reggiano, and pine nuts (if you choose).
• Transfer spaghetti to serving bowls and top with the baked chicken breasts. Enjoy!

SIMPLE MEDITERRANEAN OLIVE OIL PASTA

Steps:

• Follow package instructions to cook thin spaghetti pasta to al dente (mine took 6 minutes to cook in plenty of boiling water with salt and olive oil).
• When pasta is almost cooked, heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Lower the heat and add garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook for 10 seconds, stirring regularly. Stir in the parsley, tomatoes and chopped scallions. Cook over low heat until just warmed through, about 30 seconds or so.
• When the pasta is ready, remove from heat, drain cooking water and return to its cooking pot. Pour the warmed olive oil sauce in and toss to coat thoroughly. Add black pepper and toss again to coat.
• Add the remaining ingredients and toss one more time. Serve immediately in pasta bowls, and if you like, top each with more basil leaves and feta. Enjoy!

SILVANA'S MEDITERRANEAN & BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• To roast the veg, preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Scatter the peppers, red onions, chillies and garlic in a large roasting tin. Sprinkle with sugar, drizzle over the oil and season well with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, toss in the tomatoes and roast for another 15 minutes until everything is starting to soften and look golden.
• While the vegetables are roasting, cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet instructions, until tender but still with a bit of bite. Drain well.
• Remove the vegetables from the oven, tip in the pasta and toss lightly together. Tear the basil leaves on top and sprinkle with Parmesan to serve. If you have any leftovers it makes a great cold pasta salad - just moisten with extra olive oil if needed.

PESTO PASTA RECIPE WITH TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle.
• In a larger bowl, toss the tomatoes with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Transfer to a sheet-pan and bake in heated oven 25 to 35 minutes or just until the tomatoes collapse and develop some char (if you don't want them too soft, take the tomatoes out earlier). When ready, remove from the oven. (See notes)
• While the tomatoes are roasting, cook the spaghetti in boiling water according to the package to al dente (about 10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
• Transfer the cooked spaghetti to a large bowl (same bowl used earlier for the tomatoes). Add the pesto and toss to coat. If you need to, add a little bit of the pasta cooking water to help mix it evenly. Taste, and if needed, add a bit of kosher salt and black pepper to season.
• Add the roasted tomatoes and mozzarella to the bowl of pasta. Toss to combine. Serve warm. Garnish with fresh basil, if you like.

MEDITERRANEAN & BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• To roast the veg, preheat the oven to 400°F Scatter the peppers, red onions, chilis and garlic in a large roasting tin. Sprinkle with sugar, drizzle over the oil and season well with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 15 minutes, toss in the tomatoes and roast for another 15 minutes until everything is starting to soften and look golden.
• While the vegetables are roasting, cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet instructions, until tender but still with a bit of bite. Drain well.
• Remove the vegetables from the oven, tip in the pasta and toss lightly together.
• Tear the basil leaves on top and sprinkle with parmesan to serve.
• If you have any leftovers it makes a great cold pasta salad - just moisten with extra olive oil if needed.

A FAREWELL TO BASIL FETTUCCINE

Steps:

• Using a food processor, process basil leaves until chopped very fine. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and pulse two or three times, or until combined. Add egg, 1 teaspoon oil, and the water until dough forms a ball shape. If dough seems dry, add a bit more water. Wrap dough in a piece of plastic wrap which has been coated in a few drops of olive oil. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.
• Remove dough from refrigerator, and cut into 6 equal size portions. Run pasta though pasta machine, or roll with rolling pin to desired thickness. Use the additional flour to coat pasta while rolling.
• Allow pasta to dry for one hour prior to cooking.
• Cook in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. This should take only a 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pasta.