Pasta With Zucchini Mint And Pecorino Food

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, MINT, AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups water; drain pasta.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in oil. Add anchovies and garlic; cook, stirring, just until anchovies break down and garlic turns golden, about 30 seconds. Add zucchini; season with salt and pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is very tender, about 5 minutes. Add pasta and 1 cup reserved pasta water. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced and slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in cheese and mint. Add more pasta water if needed, a few tablespoons at a time, until sauce evenly coats pasta. Serve, drizzled with oil and sprinkled with more mint, pepper flakes, and cheese.

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet, and add the zucchini. Cook, stirring or shaking the pan, until the zucchini is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the sugar, and stir in the vinegar, lemon zest and mint. Remove from the heat, and keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook al dente, following the timing instructions on the package. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the zucchini, then drain the pasta and toss with the zucchini. Serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling.

PASTA WITH PECORINO AND PEPPER

Steps:

• Place the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and crush them until you have a mixture of coarse and fine bits. (You can also grind them in a small food mill or coffee grinder.) Set aside.
• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package until al dente. Ladle 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into a glass measuring cup and reserve it. Drain the pasta quickly in a colander and return the pasta to the pot with a lot of the pasta water still dripping.
• Working quickly, with the heat on very low, toss the pasta with 1/2 cup of the grated Pecorino, the crushed peppercorns, cream, butter, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt, tossing constantly. If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water. Off the heat, toss in the remaining 1/2 cup Pecorino. Serve immediately with a big bowl of extra grated Pecorino for sprinkling.

ZUCCHINI-AND-FENNEL SALAD WITH PECORINO AND MINT

Steps:

• Use a vegetable peeler or mandoline to thinly shave the zucchini lengthwise. In a large bowl, toss together the zucchini, mint, pecorino Romano, fennel, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Add more lemon juice or olive oil to taste.

FETTUCCINE WITH WALNUTS, ZUCCHINI RIBBONS, AND PECORINO ROMANO

Steps:

• Place 1 zucchini on work surface. Using vegetable peeler and firmly holding zucchini by stem end, shave zucchini lengthwise into long ribbons. Discard scraps. Repeat with remaining zucchini. Place ribbons (about 10 cups total) in large colander set over large bowl; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon fleur de sel. Let stand 30 minutes. Rinse zucchini under cold running water; drain well. Spread on 2 large kitchen towels; roll up in towels to absorb excess water. Set aside.
• Combine garlic, anchovy fillets, and crushed red pepper in very large serving bowl. Using pestle or wooden spoon, crush mixture until paste forms.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Transfer pasta to bowl with garlic mixture. Add 1/3 cup oil and 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid; toss. Add zucchini, walnuts, 1/2 cup cheese, basil, and mint; toss. Season with salt and pepper, adding more pasta cooking liquid if mixture is dry. Drizzle with additional oil. Sprinkle with zucchini flowers, if desired. Serve with remaining cheese.

PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve about 1 1/4 cups cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the breadcrumbs and toss until toasted, 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon mint, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Wipe out the skillet and return to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the pancetta. Cook until the pancetta is crisp around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add the red onion and cook until it starts softening, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high, add the zucchini and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add 3/4 cup of the reserved cooking water and cook until the zucchini is tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil on top and toss, adding the remaining cooking water as needed to loosen. Remove the skillet from the heat; add the cheese and the remaining 1 tablespoon mint and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Top with the seasoned breadcrumbs.