Orecchiette With Asparagus And Peas Food

ORECCHIETTE WITH LAMB AND MINT PEA PESTO

Steps:

• Stir together the semolina and 1/2 cup warm water in a small bowl until a dough starts to form. Knead the dough on a lightly floured flat surface until it is firm and elastic, adding water as needed, 7 to 8 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll each portion into a long log about 1/2 inch thick. Slice each log into 1/3-inch-long pieces. Using a butter knife, push each piece of dough down and toward yourself, it should curl up slightly. Using your thumb, push the curl in the opposite direction to form a concave shape, and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lightly sprinkled with semolina flour. Repeat the cutting and shaping process with the remaining pasta dough. Set aside while you cook the lamb.
• In a large bowl, mix the ground lamb with the garlic, lemon zest and crushed red pepper; season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Put a large pot of salted water over high heat and begin to bring it to a boil.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Push the onions to one side of the pan. Add the ground meat mixture; make sure to break the meat up with a wooden spoon and cook until it is nicely browned and no longer pink.
• Deglaze with the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Set aside while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Drain the pasta.
• Add the cooked pasta, 1/4 cup reserved pasta water and the butter to the lamb mixture, tossing until the butter is fully emulsified and the sauce coats the pasta. Gradually stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of pasta water to the desired consistency. Stir in the peas. Divide the pasta among 4 bowls, top with Mint Pea Pesto, torn mint, cheese and toasted pine nuts.
• Add the peas, parsley, mint, garlic, pine nuts, cheese and a generous pinch of salt. Pulse until a chunky paste forms. With the machine running, drizzle in the oil. Continue pulsing until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

ORECCHIETTE WITH LAMB AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season well with salt. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than listed on the box, about 8 minutes. Drain well, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the garlic and sweat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it apart with the back of a spoon, until cooked through and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the peas, asparagus and tomatoes and toss well to coat. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/2 cup pasta water and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the pasta to the sauce and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Parmesan on the bare pasta. Toss it with the sauce, adding the remaining 1/2 cup pasta water as needed to create a light tomato sauce. Stir in the thyme. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Place penne in a large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water. When pasta is about 2 minutes from being done, add the asparagus and peas and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the pasta and asparagus are cooked. Reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid. Drain pasta and return to the pot. Place the pot over low heat.
• To the pasta and veggies, add only as much water as is necessary to create a nice "sauce". Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add the garlic, cheese, olive oil, and oregano and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH PEAS, RICOTTA, AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot for cooking the pasta.
• Bring several cups water to a boil in a small pot for cooking the peas.
• Add the peas to the small pot of boiling water and cook until tender, about 4 minutes for fresh and about 1 minute for frozen; drain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet.
• Add in the onion and saute until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the peas and cook for 30 seconds.
• Scrape the onion and peas into a bowl large enough to hold the orecchiette or small shells when cooked.
• Stir in the ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano and salt and pepper to taste.
• When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the orecchiette; cook until al dente and then drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
• Toss the pasta with the cheese sauce, adding as much cooking water as needed to thin the sauce.
• Divide among individual bowls and serve immediately.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.

ORECCHIETTE CARBONARA WITH PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. In a large sauté pan, place bacon and pancetta in oil over medium-low heat. Cook until bacon is browned and has rendered most of its fat. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat, leaving meat in the pan. Scrape in onion and garlic, and sauté until glassy and translucent, then add peas and thyme. Cook for 1 minute, then turn off heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, lightly whisk together eggs, egg yolks and cheese.
• When water comes to a rolling boil, stir in pasta and cook until tender but still a little chewy in the center (like a piece of gum). Ladle out a cup of cooking water, and reserve. Drain pasta, and pour it into sauté pan with bacon; grind coarse pepper over top. Fold pasta into sauce.
• Tip pasta into egg mixture, and fold it all together quickly, so eggs cook and coat pasta with a velvety sauce. Add pea tendrils (or spinach), and fold once more. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Add a little pasta water if it becomes too thick. Spoon into shallow bowls, and sprinkle with parsley.

ORECCHIETTE WITH BUTTERMILK, PEAS, AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 5-8 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely crush with a measuring cup or glass.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water 6 minutes, then add peas and cook until pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, heat butter and 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium heavy pot over medium. Cook leeks, garlic, red pepper flakes, and 3 mint sprigs, stirring occasionally, until leeks are soft but not browned, 6-8 minutes; season with salt. Add buttermilk; bring to a simmer. Pluck out mint; discard.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer pasta and peas to leek mixture. Add 3 oz. Parmesan; cook, stirring vigorously and adding a little pasta water if needed, until sauce is creamy and coats pasta, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; add lemon juice. Pull leaves from remaining mint sprigs, tear into pasta, and toss. Divide pasta among bowls. Top with pistachios and Parmesan; drizzle with oil.

ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND BASIL (PISELLI CON ASPARAGI E BASILICO)

Steps:

• Cook shallots in butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus, peas, sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then seal skillet with foil. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender but still slightly al dente, about 8 minutes. Stir in basil and sea salt to taste.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Soak chickpeas in water to cover by 2 inches overnight (8 hours) or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below), then drain.
• Simmer chickpeas with whole garlic cloves and bay leaf in water to cover by 2 inches in a 4- to 5-quart pot, partially covered with lid, adding more water if necessary, until tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Drain chickpeas and discard garlic and bay leaf.
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook onion, celery, carrots, chopped garlic, red-pepper flakes (to taste), and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 12 minutes. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, water, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender and sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and sea salt to taste.
• Make orecchiette:
• Stir together water and sea salt in a bowl until salt has dissolved. Add semolina in a stream, beating with an electric mixer at medium speed until a stiff dough forms, about 2 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead with lightly floured hands (use all-purpose flour) until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Divide dough into 5 pieces and let stand under an overturned bowl 30 minutes.
• Line each of 2 trays (or a work surface) with a dry kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and dust with some semolina. Keeping remaining dough covered, roll 1 piece of dough into a 14-inch-long rope (about 3/4 inch thick) on an unfloured surface. Cut rope into 1/4-inch pieces. Dust your thumb with some flour and press down on each piece of dough, pushing away from you and twisting your thumb slightly to form an indented curled shape (like an ear). Transfer as formed to lined trays. Make more orecchiette with remaining dough. Let stand until dry, about 30 minutes.
• Cook orecchiette:
• Cook orecchiette in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente, then drain and toss with sauce.