Pasta With Lentils Pasta Con Lenticche Lidia Bastianich Food

PASTA WITH LENTILS (PASTA CON LENTICCHE) - LIDIA BASTIANICH

Steps:

• Place lentils in a large pot. Add enough water to just cover. Add celery, carrot, onion and bay, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes, until lentils are tender.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to the boil.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until it just begins to turn golden. Add the lentils (vegetables, liquid and all) and tomatoes, salt and red pepper flake. If it seems thick, add a splash of water from the pasta pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until reduced by about a third, 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the rigatoni to the boiling water and cook until ALMOST al dente. Drain the pasta and add to the lentils to finish cooking for the last 1-2 minutes. Finish with a drizzle of raw olive oil and garnish with chopped parsley.

PASTA E LENTICCHIE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a rolling boil, add the lentils, and cook, covered over medium-high heat, until nearly but not entirely tender, about 20 minutes. Add the garlic, the olive oil, the tomatoes, the salt and the pepper. Reduce the heat, cover and continue to simmer briskly for another 10 minutes, stirring a few times, or until the lentils are fully tender. If using capellini, break it into 2 to 4-inch pieces and add them to the lentils. Cook, covered, at a steady simmer, stirring several times and scraping the bottom of the pot when you do. Cook until the pasta is just done, stirring more frequently as it gets closer to the point of being cooked. If using a small tubular pasta or pasta mista, cook the pasta at least halfway in plenty of salted boiling water. Drain the pasta, add it to the lentils and simmer to finish cooking the pasta. When either pasta is cooked to taste, remove the pot from the heat, stir in the parsley cover the pot, and let stand about 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot, passing hot pepper oil or the best-quality extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling on top.

PASTA WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large Dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Cut the pancetta into 1/4-inch strips and add them. Cook until they begin to render fat, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and bay leaves. Cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Once it's thickened, add lentils, water, and the tablespoon of salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are just tender, about 30 minutes.
• Add the ditalini, and cook, covered, until pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and some grated cheese.

SOUP WITH LENTILS AND DITALINI PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the broth with the additional 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the salt, several grinds of pepper, and the rinsed lentils. Return to a gentle boil, and cook, covered, for 35 to 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender-add more hot water as needed.
• Taste, and add more salt to balance the pasta: stir in the ditalini and cook for 12 minutes or more, until the pasta is to your liking. Add hot water to thin the soup too, if necessary. Adjust the seasoning one last time, and serve right away in warm bowls, with freshly grated cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, and other garnishes (see page 60).

PASTA SHELLS WITH LENTILS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook lentils, carrot, and celery leaves in 1 quart water for 15-20 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Drain the lentils, and reserve the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet. Add onions and thyme, and sautee for 10-12 minutes.
• Add the lentils to the skillet along with 1 cup of the reserved broth. Squeeze excess moisture from the spinach before adding to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat while pasta cooks.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with lentil sauce. Add more lentil broth if too dry. Add parsley and serve with grated Parmesan (or nutritional yeast) if desired.