Mediterranean Pasta Food

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!

SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt the water well (about 2 tablespoons of kosher salt). Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until just al dante or a little before (mine took about 9 minutes). Before you drain the pasta, make sure to reserve about 1 ½ cups of the pasta cook water.
• Meanwhile, 4 minutes after you add the pasta to the boiling water, warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, tossing regularly until the garlic is just turning golden brown (manage the heat well so that the garlic does not overcook). Add the red pepper flakes and toss for 30 seconds or so. If the pasta is not ready, move the oil off the heat for now.
• Carefully ladle the reserved pasta cooking water in the pan. Bring to a simmer until the liquid reduces by about 1/3.
• Add the cooked pasta and toss around for a couple of minutes. Turn the heat off and add the parmesan and parsley. Toss to combine.
• Allow the pasta a couple more minutes to rest and absorb the sauce. Serve with more Parmesan and red pepper flakes to the side.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA IN MINUTES

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta in a pasta pot, fitted with a strainer. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown chicken strips until no longer pink -- about 3 minutes each side. Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic to skillet. Saute for 2 minutes. In the meantime, add the fresh pasta to boiling water, cook until al dente, about 5 minutes.
• Now add the basil, artichoke hearts, olives and feta cheese to the skillet. Saute 1 minute then stir in the cream. Strain the pasta and transfer to a large pasta bowl. Add the chicken saute to the pasta and toss. Season with oregano, salt and pepper before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• Season chicken with salt. Stir chicken with bacon in a large skillet or saucepan. Add tomatoes and rosemary, and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in feta cheese, olives and artichoke hearts and cook until heated through. Toss with fresh cooked pasta and serve warm. Garnished with extra feta if desired.