Pesto Baked Feta Rotini Barilla Canada Food

BOW TIES WITH PESTO, FETA AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Stir in the bow ties and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and run it under cold water just until it stops steaming. Bounce the pasta around to get rid of as much water as you can.
• Dump the pasta into a large serving bowl. Stir in the pesto until the pasta is coated. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and the crumbled feta. Taste the salad and season it as you like with salt and pepper. You can make the salad up to about 1 hour before you serve it. Check out the salt and pepper just before you serve the salad. If it's looking a little dry, add some olive oil and stir it around.
• Pesto:
• 5 big handfuls basil leaves (about 2 hefty bunches)
• 1/2 cup pine nuts or 3/4 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
• Juice of 1 small lemon
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• Kosher salt
• About 20 grinds freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Place all ingredients with 1/2 cup of the oil in a blender and blend. Gradually drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup of oil until pesto is thick and smooth.
• Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

PESTO

Steps:

• Place the walnuts, pignolis, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 30 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

PESTO PASTA FRITTATA

Steps:

• Set a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat it to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Parmesan, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, and a few grinds of black pepper.
• In a separate bowl, toss the pasta with the pesto or herb sauce.
• Melt the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet (or other nonstick oven-safe pan) over medium heat. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet, then nestle in the pasta.
• Cook, undisturbed, until the frittata is set around the edges but still looks wet on the surface, about 5 minutes. Slide the frittata into the oven and bake until the top is set, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the frittata warm or at room temperature, with more pesto or herb sauce on the side.

PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree all ingredients. Refrigerate for several weeks or freeze in a tightly covered container. Toss a few tablespoons pesto with hot cooked pasta.