Orecchiette Pasta Salad Food

ORECCHIETTE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dice zucchini and carrots and then scald them in boiling water just until tender. Drain, cool and set aside.
• Wash and drain the escarole. Coarsley chop it and set aside.
• Dice the tomatoes and place them in a sieve to drain some of the juice, set aside.
• Wash the cucumber, pat dry and dice leaving the skin on or if you prefer off, and set aside.
• Cook the pasta in boiling water according to directions on box to al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain thoroughly.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix the orecchiette with the cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, escarole, garlic, basil and cheese.
• Toss with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Chill in refrigerator, and serve cold.

ORECCHIETTE SALAD WITH ROAST BEEF

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; drain but don't rinse. Meanwhile, combine the bocconcini, artichokes, marinated peppers and mint in a serving bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper to taste and toss. Add the pasta and toss again. Just before serving, stir in the arugula and roast beef. Season the salad with pepper.

WHITE BEAN, TOMATO AND SAUSAGE ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orecchiette according to package instructions.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with the back of a spoon, until it starts to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the sausage to a bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving all the oil in the skillet.
• Add the onions to the oil and cook until they start to soften and turn translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to blister and split, about 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
• Add the beans and return the sausage to the skillet. Cook until warmed through. Add the pasta and toss until it is completely coated. Add the Parmesan in batches, stirring to incorporate and letting it melt before more is added. Stir in the basil.
• Plate the pasta and top with more Parmesan and basil. Serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE PASTA SALAD WITH ARTICHOKES AND GRILLED VEGGIES

Steps:

• Thinly slice the onion, red pepper, zucchini and mushrooms. Heat olive oiI in a large saute pan -- add onions, cooking until softened, then add garlic, red pepper, mushrooms and zucchini -- continue to cook until lightly coloured.
• Drain and quarter the artichoke hearts.
• Stir the grilled veggies and the remaining ingredients (except tomatoes and additional dressing) into the cold cooked pasta -- mix well.
• Place into a container with a lid and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• When ready to serve, refresh with additional 1/4 cup of salad dressing and garnish with quartered cherry tomatoes.
• Notes:
• The salad dressing is the most recognizable flavour so make sure you're confident with the taste -- you can make your own with a light tasting olive oil, lemon juice (or white balsamic), dijon mustard and your choice of herbs, but I find Kraft's Classic Herb is perfect for pasta salads.
• As I cook with cheeses so frequently, I stock my fridge/freezer with one-cup baggies filled with a blend of shredded imported Italian white cheeses (asiago, provolone, pecorino romano and parmegiana reggiano). You can easily substitute crumbled feta, but it will completely change the flavour. Also, as these cheeses are quite salty, I rarely add table salt to my recipes.

ORECCHIETTE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Boil pasta al dente about 9 mins, drain, set aside
• 2. meanwhile in a large pan, saute crushed garlic in olive oil...about a min add tomatoes, spinach, black olives, garbanzo beans
• 3. mix in the drained pasta,add lemon zest and feta cheese...serve room temperature or chilled

BROCCOLI WITH ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Set pasta aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; saute until golden, stirring to avoid burning, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli and reserved cooking liquid; cook, stirring, until broccoli is tender and bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the salt, and season with pepper. Remove from heat.
• Add reserved pasta to pan, and toss well to coat. Transfer to four serving bowls; drizzle each with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, and garnish each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons grated pecorino cheese.

TUSCAN FAVA BEAN AND ORECCHIETTE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in orecchiette pasta and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, thyme, black pepper, and salt together in a bowl until dressing is mixed.
• Combine the fava beans, cooked pasta, grape tomatoes, red onion, celery, and basil in a large bowl. Toss to coat with the dressing. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.