Pasta With Capersolives And Pine Nuts Food

PASTA WITH BACON, CHEESE, LEMON AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Put the cheese, herbs and red pepper flakes on the table. Zest the lemon and put the zest on the table in a small serving bowl. Cut the lemon in half.
• Put bacon in a medium-size heavy pot and turn the heat on low. Cook, turning occasionally, until fat has rendered and bacon is chewy-crisp, about 10 minutes. Lift out bacon pieces and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Keep warm on top of the stove.
• When the water boils, add pasta, stir well and cover. When the water comes back to the boil, uncover and stir again.
• Put 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan and melt it over medium-low heat. When it foams, throw in the pine nuts and cook, shaking the pan, until they turn brown and toasty. Turn off heat and squeeze the lemon into the pan, cupping your hand underneath to catch any pits. Stir and set aside. Transfer bacon to a serving bowl and place on the table.
• As soon as the pasta is tender (it will cook a bit more later on), drain it, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Immediately return the pasta to the pan over low heat. Toss in a chunk of butter. Add a splash of cooking water and a pinch of salt, stir well, cover and let rest 1 minute. Taste and adjust the seasonings until the pasta is completely cooked and tasty (but plain).
• For those who like plain pasta or pasta with just butter and cheese, set aside a good amount in serving bowls. For others, pour the pine nuts and butter into the pasta remaining in the pot, add another splash of cooking water, and toss to combine. Serve from the pot or in a serving bowl, passing the various toppings.

EASY CAPONATA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add celery and cook uncovered until softened, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat; add onion and celery and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, red bell peppers, and zucchini and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, vinegar, and sugar. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add olives, raisins, pine nuts, and capers. Season with salt and pepper and cook until flavors are well combined, about 5 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat; stir in chopped basil. Cool and serve at room temperature.

PASTA WITH CAPERS,OLIVES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Combine butter and oil in saute pan over medium heat.
• Add garlic and pine nuts reduce heat to low, cook until nuts turns golden.
• Add olives, capers and herbs until heated.
• Cook pasta and drain.
• Add pasta to olive mixture until well incorporated.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH TOMATOES, CAPERS, OLIVES AND BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the sliced garlic over medium-low heat in a medium saucepan or skillet. Cook, stirring often, until the garlic turns golden, about two minutes. Do not let it take on any more color than this. Remove the garlic slices with a slotted spoon and discard, then add the bread crumbs to the pan. Turn the heat to medium, and cook, stirring, until the bread crumbs are crisp. Remove from the heat, and set aside.
• Return the pan to medium heat, and add the remaining olive oil, the red pepper flakes and the minced garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds until the garlic smells fragrant, and add the tomatoes, capers and olives. Bring to a simmer, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the spaghetti. Cook al dente, following the cooking recommendations on the package but checking about a minute before the suggested time. Drain, and toss with the tomato sauce. Sprinkle the bread crumbs and parsley on top, toss again briefly and serve, passing the Parmesan at the table.

TOMATO SAUCE WITH PINE NUTS, CAPERS, OLIVES AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Drain tomatoes into a measuring cup. Reserve 1/4 cup of packing juice. Roughly chop tomatoes and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over low heat until shimmering. Add garlic and cook gently until soft but not brown. Add tomatoes, raise heat to medium, and cook tomatoes until they are soft and broken down, about 15 minutes. Add a little reserved juice if necessary, but keep the sauce very thick.
• Meanwhile, toast pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium heat until golden, stirring (or shaking and tossing) often. Stir into the sauce along with the raisins, olive, and capers. Season sauce to taste and serve with fish or tossed with pasta.

SPICY PASTA WITH CAPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add oil.
• When oil is hot, add the anchovies.
• Mash the anchovies in the olive oil and sauté for 45 seconds.
• Add the onion and sauté for 2 minutes, until tender.
• Add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes.
• Add the seeded, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and wine.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium and add capers, olives, basil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
• Simmer, uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust spices accordingly.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• Drain pasta and toss with sauce.
• (If sauce gets a little too thick, spoon in a little water from the pot you are cooking the pasta in).
• Sprinkle with grated cheese.

SPAGHETTI WITH FENNEL, ANCHOVIES, CURRANTS, PINE NUTS & CAPERS

Steps:

• Quarter the fennel bulbs. Remove the coarse outer leaves and trim the tips (cut off and reserve any fronds). Remove and discard the core from each quarter, then chop the rest of the fennel.
• Cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling, lightly salted water. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the fennel until soft, then add the garlic and cook gently until pale gold. Add the anchovies, press with a wooden spoon, then add the chilli. When the anchovies fall apart, toss in the currants, capers, parsley and most of the pine nuts.
• Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the frying pan. Add the lemon juice and season to taste. Toss together, then serve straight from the pan or transfer to a large warm serving bowl. Scatter over the remaining pine nuts and any fennel fronds.