Primavera Pesto Pasta Food

PESTO PENNE PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Combine the basil, garlic, 1/4 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup olive oil, and lemon juice in a food processor and blend until well combined and has the texture of fresh pesto; set aside.
• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in boiling water until cooked yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil over the pasta and toss to coat; set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Roast the pine nuts in the skillet until lightly browned; remove to a plate and set aside. Add the asparagus, zucchini, Kalamata olives, roasted red pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet; cook and stir until hot, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir the pine nuts into the vegetable mixture. Add the pasta and about 1/4 cup of the pesto, or more to your liking, to the skillet and toss to combine. Serve in bowls topped with the grated Parmesan cheese.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Gently melt the butter with the parsley, chives and mint and set aside in a warm place. Prepare all the vegetables: shell the peas, wash the carrots and trim away any leaves but leave a short green stalk in place (the stalk is edible but it is also there to show the vegetable is freshly harvested!), thickly slice the courgettes and trim the green beans.
• Bring 2 large pans of water to the boil (one for the pasta, one for the veg). Lightly salt the water in one of the pans, add the pasta to it and cook until al dente (10-12 minutes or according to the cooking instructions on the packet). While the pasta cooks, add the carrots to the other pan and cook for 2 minutes. Next throw in the peas, green beans and courgettes and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Drain both the pasta and the vegetables well. Return the pasta to the hot pan with a splash of olive oil, half the herb butter and the lemon zest and juice. Return the vegetables to their pan, toss with the rest of the herb butter and season well with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the pasta on to serving plates, grind some black pepper over and serve with the vegetables on top. Scatter on as much basil as you like and serve straight away.

PRIMAVERA PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and adding asparagus to the boiling water the last minute.
• Meanwhile, heat large skillet on medium heat. Stir in cream cheese spread, broth and dressing; cook until sauce begins to thicken, stirring constantly. Add peas and onions; cook 2 min., stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta mixture; return to pan. Add sauce; mix lightly. Cook 1 min. or until heated through. Top with basil.

PESTO SHRIMP PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Toss the hot penne pasta with 3 tablespoons of pesto sauce. Put pasta on large platter and cover to keep warm.
• Over medium high heat, cook the peppers and onion in oil 8 minutes. Add the zucchini, shrimp and salt; cook for 8 more minutes or until the shrimp are opaque, stirring frequently.
• Top the pasta with mixture; add the remaining pesto and toss.

PESTO PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Meanwhile, heat large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts; cook, stirring, until just golden, 1-2 minutes. Remove nuts from pan; reserve.
• In same skillet, heat oil. Add shrimp; cook, stirring, until just turning pink, 1-2 minutes. Add squash; cook until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Add reserved cooking water and pesto, then snap peas and pasta; gently toss until well-coated and heated through. Remove from heat; stir in tomatoes, bocconcini and basil. Serve sprinkled with pine nuts.