Penne With Asparagus And Cherry Tomatoes Spring Food

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

LINGUINE WITH SHRIMP, ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large bowl.
• Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds until aromatic. Add the wine and asparagus. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the shrimp with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the shrimp to the pan and continue to simmer until the shrimp is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the basil, mint and oregano.
• Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Boil water for the pasta. Cook as you are preparing the garlic/asparagus sauce. In a skillet, cook garlic, red pepper flakes and hot pepper sauce in heated oil and butter for 2 to 3 minutes. Add asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese, mix well. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta; stir to prevent sticking. Cook pasta until just tender, according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce and half-and-half or soymilk, increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Add asparagus and tarragon and reduce heat to low. Partially cover and cook until asparagus are tender and sauce is slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add pasta to asparagus mixture along with salt and pepper. Toss until well coated. Serve hot.

PASTA WITH CHICKEN, ASPARAGUS, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray a 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus; cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
• Drain paste and stir into the skillet. Add basil, balsamic vinegar, and oil. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH CHERRY TOMATOES, ASPARAGUS, AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Put 1 tablespoons water in a microwave safe bowl, add asparagus, cover, and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta til al dente, about 10 minutes. Divide cherry tomatoes in half and add to bowl; mince garlic. Toss with olive oil. Chill for at least two hours; crumble goat cheese and toss with salad.

ELEGANT PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in the white wine, and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes, butter, and asparagus; cook until the asparagus is just tender, about 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and lemon juice, continue cooking until the shrimp have turned pink and are no longer translucent in the center. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Toss the cooked penne pasta with the shrimp and asparagus mixture. Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan cheese to garnish.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Warm 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in chicken, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until chicken is cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken to paper towels.
• Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Then stir in asparagus, garlic, and a pinch more garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover, and steam until the asparagus is just tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet, and warm through.
• Stir chicken mixture into pasta, and mix well. Let sit about 5 minutes. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, stir again, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

TOMATO AND ASPARAGUS CARBONARA

Steps:

• 1. Bring 3 qts. water to a boil in a large pan; while preparing the following: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to pan to coat. Add asparagus, sauté 3 1/2 minutes. Add garlic sauté for another minute. Add tomatoes; cook for 6 more minutes, or until tomatoes are tender.
• 2. Combine cheese, salt, pepper, and egg in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.(don't worry about the raw egg - the heat from adding the hot pasta later will cook the egg, thickening it into a light, creamy sauce.)
• 3. How add the pasta to the boiling water; cook about 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain and toss pasta immediately with egg mixture, tossing until sauce thickens.
• 4. Divide pasta equally among 4 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with 1 Tablespoon basil. Serve immediately. Great served with a fruity white wine- apple juice for the kids.

SPRING PASTA SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Put up a large pot of salted water for cooking the pasta and bring it to a boil.
• Add the asparagus and blanch it until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Scoop the asparagus from the water with a large strainer spoon and place in a colander. Run cold water over it to stop the cooking process, and to preserve the bright green color. Drain well and slice into small pieces on the diagonal, leaving the tips whole.
• Bring the water back to a rapid boil and cook the penne until just al dente (tender but slightly firm to the bite). Run the pasta under cold water and drain very well.
• In a large serving bowl, add the pasta, the blanched asparagus and all the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper and toss well until all the pasta is well coated with dressing. Taste for seasoning. This is best served at room temperature.
• Note: Another lovely addition to this pasta is about 3/4 cup freshly shelled spring peas. Blanch them for 1 minute in the boiling pasta water after you blanch the asparagus. Drain well and add them to the bowl along with the other ingredients.

PENNE WITH SHRIMP, ASPARAGUS, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oil reserved from tomatoes in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and sauté until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to bowl. Add sun-dried tomatoes, shrimp, 1/4 cup basil, garlic, oregano, and crushed red pepper to same skillet and sauté until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp mixture to bowl with asparagus. Add broth, wine, and tomato paste to same skillet. Boil until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain; return pasta to same pot. Add shrimp mixture, sauce, remaining 1/4 cup basil, and cheese to pasta. Toss over medium heat until warmed through and sauce coats pasta. Season with salt and pepper and serve.