Pasta With Mascarpone And Sage Food

EASY FRESH PASTA WITH SAGE BROWNED BUTTER

Steps:

• For the fresh tagliatelle: Bring a medium stockpot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine the pasta flour and eggs in a food processor or the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until a ball of dough forms. Continue to knead for 3 minutes, either by hand or in the mixer, so that the dough develops elasticity and silkiness. Dust the ball of dough with "00" pasta flour, seal it in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling it out, if time allows (see Cook's Note). Alternatively, you can let the dough rest for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. The color sometimes fades after that, although the dough is still usable for up to 3 days.
• For sheeting and cutting by hand, use a rolling pin to flatten the pasta sheet into an oval about 1/16-inch thick. Flour it generously with "00" pasta flour and roll it into a cylindrical tube from short end to short end. Use a chef's knife to cut the cylinder into 3/8-inch strips. Unroll and separate the strips into strands of tagliatelle.
• For sheeting with a pasta machine, sheet the pasta to about 1/16-inch thick, and cut into strips about 3/8-inch wide. On a pasta machine, this is about the third-thinnest setting on the sheeter and utilizes the tagliatelle cutter.
• If time allows, hang the pasta at room temperature for 30 minutes or until it feels leathery. If cooking immediately, generously dust the tagliatelle with plenty of semolina flour to prevent it from becoming gummy.
• Add the pasta and 1 tablespoon semolina flour to the large pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes.
• For the sage browned butter: Melt the butter over medium heat in a large saute pan. Continue cooking the butter until it turns a light golden brown, keeping a vigilant eye on it. Add the sage and continue cooking until the butter turns medium golden brown and smells nutty, about 2 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat for 1 minute.
• Add the nutmeg and vinegar and return the pan to medium-high heat, stirring to combine. Immediately add the pasta water and Parmigiano and whisk until the cheese disappears and the sauce starts to thicken, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, toss the sauce with the pasta and serve immediately, topping each plate with additional cheese, if desired.

PASTA WITH MASCARPONE AND SAGE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
• To a medium-hot skillet, heat olive oil and add bread crumbs, sage, garlic and salt and pepper to taste and saute for about 3-4 minutes.
• In a large bowl stir together mascarpone and Parmesan and add pasta and toss.
• At this point you might want to salt and pepper again.
• Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta as it is served.

PASTA WITH BUTTER, SAGE AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt it. Cook pasta until it is tender, but not quite done.
• Meanwhile, place butter in a skillet or saucepan large enough to hold the cooked pasta; turn heat to medium, and add sage. Cook until butter turns nut-brown and sage shrivels, then turn heat to a minimum.
• When the pasta is just about done, scoop out a cup of the cooking water. Drain the pasta. Immediately add it to the butter-sage mixture, and raise heat to medium. Add 3/4 cup of the water, and stir; the mixture will be loose and a little soupy. Cook for about 30 seconds, or until some of the water is absorbed and the pasta is perfectly done.
• Stir in cheese; the sauce will become creamy. Thin it with a little more water if necessary. Season liberally with pepper and salt to taste, and serve immediately, passing more cheese at the table if you like.

GNOCCHI WITH SAGE, MUSHROOMS & MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Heat the oil, add the shallots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms and cook for a further 5 - 6 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden. Stir in the sage, mascarpone and seasoning to taste.
• Meanwhile, bring a pan of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the gnocchi following instructions on the pack. Drain, reserving approximately 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid and place the gnocchi in a serving dish.
• Stir the reserved liquid into the sauce, pour over the gnocchi and serve straight away garnished with fresh sage leaves and parmesan shavings.

PUMPKIN TORTELLINI

Steps:

• In saute pan, melt the butter with a pinch of pepper, the sage, and mascarpone. Add heavy cream and reduce to a thick sauce, about 10 minutes. While the sauce is reducing, boil the pasta. Drain and add to the sauce. Toss the pasta in the sauce over low heat until the pasta is well coated. Add the cheese and salt and pepper, to taste.

CREAMY MACARONI WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Fill a 4-quart kettle three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil for macaroni. Cook macaroni in boiling water until al dente and drain in a colander.
• While macaroni is cooking, in a non-stick skillet heat butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and add bread crumbs, sage, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook bread crumb mixture, stirring, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. In a large bowl stir together mascarpone and Parmesan. Add macaroni and salt and pepper to taste, tossing to combine.
• Divide macaroni between 2 bowls and sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs.

SAUSAGE & COURGETTE RIGATONI

Steps:

• Take the skins off the sausages and break the meat into small chunks. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the sausagemeat until really golden and crispy, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as you cook, so the end result is a bit like chunky mince. Scoop out the sausagemeat with a slotted spoon, leaving the sausage oil in the pan, then add the fennel, onion and garlic. Fry gently for about 10 mins until the veg are softened but not coloured. Add a splash of water if it starts to catch.
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the pasta and cook following pack instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, saving a ladleful of the water.
• Put the frying pan back on the heat and stir in the lemon zest, juice, mascarpone, courgette and reserved pasta water. Bubble for 2 mins, then stir in the rigatoni with the sausagemeat. Season, scatter over any fennel fronds, some toasted pine nuts (if you like) and a little grated Parmesan. Scoop straight from the pan into pasta bowls.

TOMATO & MASCARPONE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Place the tomatoes, cut-side up, in a roasting dish and drizzle with the vinegar, oregano and some seasoning. Roast for 1 hr until soft.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan, then cook the onion for 5 mins until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min more. When the tomatoes are ready, tip into the pan with the stock. Simmer for 5 mins, then add the mascarpone. Remove from the heat and blitz with a hand blender until smooth.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions, drain and set aside in a colander. Heat grill to High. Season the sauce and stir in the basil and pasta. Mix, then tip into an ovenproof dish and cover with the cheese. Grill for a few mins until golden and bubbling.