Pancetta And Artichoke Baked Pasta With Smoked Mozzarella Food

RIGATONI WITH PEPPERONI AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, cook the pepperoni in a separate large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until just crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
• Add 1 cup water, the tomatoes, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low; simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, 10 minutes. Add the pasta and parmesan; toss to coat, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen. Remove from the heat and stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with a pinch of red pepper flakes, basil and more parmesan.

SPAGHETTI WITH ASPARAGUS, SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. With a spider or slotted spoon, remove asparagus from boiling water to a bowl of ice water to cool and stop the cooking. When cool, strain, cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, and set aside.
• Return the water in the pot to a boil, adding additional water, if necessary. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add asparagus to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the pasta, and if needed, some of the reserved cooking liquid. Toss to coat. Add the prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil, and toss to combine. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

PASTA WITH ARTICHOKES AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Squeeze one lemon half into a large bowl of cold water. Pluck off all tough leaves from one artichoke, until you reach leaves that are pale and soft. Using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, peel stem and trim base of artichoke, then dunk it in lemon water to keep it from browning. Cut off the top 1/3 of artichoke and discard. Cut artichoke in half; remove any inner purple leaves and scoop out the fuzzy choke if there is one. Thinly slice artichoke lengthwise to include some of the heart. Put slices in the lemon water and leave them there as you cut remaining artichokes.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil, then cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in pancetta and cook until browned and crispy, stirring occasionally, 8 to 12 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel-lined plate; leave fat in pan.
• Drain the artichokes, shaking them well to remove excess water. Raise heat under pan to medium-high, and stir in artichokes, leeks, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and cook until golden brown and tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and stir in vermouth, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of skillet.
• Stir in cooked pasta, pancetta, chives and parsley. If the mixture seems dry, add pasta water, a little at a time. Stir in more salt to taste, Parmesan and lemon juice to taste.
• Transfer to serving plates and top with a drizzle of oil, more black pepper, and more grated cheese.

PASTA WITH PANCETTA AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the pancetta to a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and saute until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato puree. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, to taste.
• Meanwhile, boil the linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the linguine with the sauce in the skillet, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid until the pasta is moist but being careful not to dilute the sauce. Toss with the cheese. Season with salt, to taste.

RISOTTO WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES, SMOKED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat the butter in pressure cooker over medium-high heat. When it begins to foam, add the leeks, herbs, and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Stir in the rice and coat it with the butter. Add the wine and cook over high heat, stirring, until it evaporates, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, broth and black olives.
• Lock the lid in place. Over high heat, bring to high pressure. Lower the heat to maintain high pressure and cook for 4 minutes. Quick-release the pressure by setting the cooker under cold running water. Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to allow any excess steam to escape.
• Boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the rice is tender but still chewy and the risotto loses most of its soupiness and becomes creamy and thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the smoked mozzarella, green olives, parsley, and salt, if needed. Continue to stir just until the mozzarella has softened and the parsley becomes limp, about 30 seconds. Serve in large shallow bowls.

BROCCOLI, TOMATO SAUCE AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Boil salted water and cook the pasta for 10 minutes or until aldente. If the florets are big, cut them in half or bite sized pieces. Heat the olive oil and add the garlic and crushed red pepper and tomatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until tomatoes melt and separate from the oil. Meanwhile steam the broccoli florets until tender but cooked through. When the pasta is done, add the mozzarella to the hot sauce, then stir in the penne and broccoli and toss and mix until cheese melts into pasta and ingredients are well mixed. Serve with some grated Parmesan.

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
• Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

PASTA PANCETTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a large skillet, cook pancetta in oil until just beginning to brown. Stir in shallots, garlic, and mushrooms: cook for one minute. Season with pepper and oregano, and pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat , and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover, and continue to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Strain liquid from pan into cooked linguine, and add olive oil. Toss to coat. Divide pasta onto individual serving plates, and top with equal portions of pancetta and mushrooms. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan.