Pesto Onion Prosciutto Pasta Food

EMMANUEL'S PASTA, PEAS, PROSCIUTTO, AND ONION

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on the stove over high heat for pasta. When water comes to a boil, add salt to water and cook pasta to al dente, with a bite to it.
• In a large, deep skillet, preheated over moderate heat, cook garlic, onion, and crushed pepper in extra-virgin olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and sauce or puree to the pan. When tomatoes come to a bubble, reduce heat to simmer. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• When pasta is cooked to al dente, drain well and set near stove. Sprinkle ribbons of sliced prosciutto and the green peas into the sauce. Stir to combine and heat peas through. Toss pasta with sauce and shredded basil. Keep turning pasta in sauce until basil wilts and pasta begins to absorb sauce, about 1 minute. Transfer pasta to a serving platter and garnish with a few whole basil leaves.
• Serve with salad and grated cheese, for passing.

SPINACH-RICOTTA PESTO PASTA WITH CRISP PROSCIUTTO AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. When it boils, add pasta and cook as indicated on box.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When it shimmers, add prosciutto and cook, stirring occasionally, until prosciutto is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus and toss to coat evenly. Let cook until asparagus just starts to get browned on the edges, about 3 minutes.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Add a few tablespoons of the water to the asparagus mixture, stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate browned bits, and remove from heat. Drain pasta and return to pot (off heat), add remaining reserved pasta cooking water, asparagus, Spinach-Ricotta Dip, and stir until thoroughly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning, as desired. Serve immediately.
• In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium heat. When oil shimmers, add pine nuts and cook until they make a popping noise and start to brown, about 1 minute. Stir in garlic and onion and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to a food processor fitted with a blade, add in remaining ingredients, and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, as necessary.

PESTO ONION PROSCIUTTO PASTA

Steps:

• Start the water boiling for the pasta.
• Put the olive oil in a big deep skillet and turn it on high. If you haven't chopped the veggies yet, chop them and dump them in the skillet as you go.
• Start sauteing the onions, bell peppers, garlic, and mushrooms over medium high heat. You want them to develop some golden color, not just get mushy cooked. I do this while I wait for the water to boil.
• When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta. Then add the proscuitto or bacon to the skillet with the vegetables. Stir, and then turn the heat down to medium low.
• If you are not using wine, you will need to reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water from the pasta right before the pasta is cooked.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain. Return it to the cooking pot and cover. This will keep the pasta warm.
• It's time to deglaze the pan with the vegetables. Use either the wine or the reserved pasta water. Stir and scrape to get all the good stuff off the bottom of the pot. You may need to turn the heat back up, you want the liquid to come to a boil and reduce slightly.
• Combine the cooked vegetables and the pasta in the larger of your two cooking pots (or a big serving bowl). Add the cannellini beans, parmesean cheese and pesto. Stir. Taste. If you think you need to add salt, add it.
• Move to a big serving bowl or individual plates. Garnish with basil, tomato, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. (This works great with a thick balsamic, it doesn't work well with the cheaper thin stuff).
• Leftovers are fantastic heated or cold like a pasta salad.
• OAMC adaptation: Cook the vegetable part as directed. Add the cannellini beans, pesto, and parmesean cheese. Then freeze. When you thaw you will need to cook/drain the pasta and then add in the HEATED vegetable pesto combo. I will make up a double batch of the veggies and freeze at least half.

ANGEL HAIR PASTA WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Combine the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil in a blender and blend to a puree. Add the cheese, salt and pepper, and blend again.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling, salted water until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the pesto and toss. Taste for salt and pepper, and add a drizzle of oil, if you like.