Recipes Using Leeks And Pasta Food

PASTA WITH LEEKS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Trim root end of leeks, then cut off hard green leaves, leaving a bit of green where they meet the white part. Split leeks down the middle, then chop them, not too finely. Wash very well, and spin or shake dry. Set a large pot of water to boil, and salt it.
• Put half the butter or oil in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. A minute later add garlic and chilies, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic browns; remove chilies (and garlic if you prefer). Add leeks, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they wilt, about 10 minutes. Add pepper or tomato, and lower heat; continue to cook, stirring once in a while, until leeks begin to brown.
• Cook pasta until tender but not mushy. When it's done, drain it, reserving about 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Toss pasta and leeks together with remaining butter or oil, a few sprinklings of black pepper and all but a little of the parsley, adding a bit of cooking liquid if mixture seems dry. Taste and adjust seasoning, garnish with remaining parsley, and serve.

BOW TIES WITH SAUSAGE AND LEEK SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, prepare the leeks: Cut off and discard the top third of the rough green portion and the root ends. Remove any brown or wilted outer layers. Slice the remaining green and white parts into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Rinse the leek slices in several changes of cold water, swishing them around to remove all soil and grit.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Crumble the sausage meat into the skillet and cook, breaking up the lumps, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the leeks to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter, the peas, and stock. Heat to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, cover the skillet, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, stir the bow ties into the boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, uncover the pot. Cook the pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente -- tender, but firm -- about 12 minutes. Drain the bow ties well and return them to a pot over low heat.
• Add the sausage and leek sauce to the pasta and toss well until the pasta is coated. Remove the pot from the heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the grated cheese, and toss well. Transfer to a warmed serving platter or individual bowls. Serve immediately, passing additional grated cheese on the side, if you like.

PASTA WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from the skillet.
• Add the leeks to the drippings in the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parmesan, half of the bacon and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen. To serve, top with the remaining bacon, more parmesan and parsley.

ORECCHIETTE WITH HAM AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Whisk the semolina and all-purpose flour in a large bowl. Mound on a work surface and make a well in the center. Pour 1/2 cup cold water into the well. Using a fork and working your way around the well, gradually mix the flour into the water. Continue mixing until the dough is crumbly. If the dough is too dry to come together, add up to 1/4 cup more water, a little at a time.
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature,30 minutes. (The dough can be made a day ahead and refrigerated; bring it to room temperature before rolling.)
• Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time (and keeping the other pieces wrapped), roll the dough on the counter with your hands into a 1/2-inch-thick log. With a knife or bench scraper, cut the log into 1/2-inch pieces; roll each piece into a small ball. With floured hands, press your thumb into a dough ball and drag it toward you to form a bowl shape; put the dough on the tip of your index finger and turn it inside out. Repeat to form the remaining orecchiette; transfer to a floured baking sheet as you go.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt the butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the ham and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook1 minute. Add the peas and broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in the heavy cream and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and simmer until the peas are tender, about 5 minutes for frozen, 10 minutes for fresh.
• Transfer the orecchiette to a colander and shake over the baking sheet to remove the excess flour. Add the orecchiette to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Remove with a strainer or slotted spoon and add directly to the skillet with the ham and peas. Toss, adding spoonfuls of the pasta cooking water to loosen, if necessary. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan.

PASTA WITH PANCETTA AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• Saute the pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat is rendered and it starts to brown. Add the leeks and cook, about 8 minutes. When you add the leeks, you can also throw in a pat or 2 of butter if you want to. This'll give the dish some scrumptious flavor.
• After 8 to 10 minutes, pour in the wine, and then cook until reduced, an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and then pour in the cream. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in some Parmesan.
• Toss in the pasta, adding a little pasta water to thin as needed. Serve with Parmesan over the top - delicious!

CHEESY LEEK AND SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the oil in a large pan, put in the leeks and splash in a little hot water.
• Cover and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until no longer squeaky.
• While the leeks are cooking, boil the penne in salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Meanwhile, add the creme fraiche and mustard into the leeks, add three-quarters of the cheese and season well.
• Stir until the cheese melts.
• Season the leeks mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Take off the heat.
• Drain the pasta, reserving the cooking water.
• Pour the pasta into the sauce and stir, adding enough cooking water to make the sauce coat the pasta.
• Add crushed red pepper flakes, if using.
• Stir in the spinach, a big handful at a time, until it wilts, splashing in a little more water if needed.
• Toss in the remaining cheese and serve.

CHICKEN & LEEK PASTA BAKE WITH A CRUNCHY TOP

Steps:

• For the base, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for a few mins, stirring all the time. Now, using a whisk or spatula, carefully stir in the milk, a little at a time, making sure the sauce stays smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for a couple of mins until it thickens - it will be very thick. Turn the heat right down and keep cooking for 5 mins, stirring often.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry all of the chicken in batches until it starts to colour lightly at the edges. Scoop out each batch of chicken and put it on a plate. Add the onion to the pan if you are using it, and cook over a low heat until soft. Add the chicken and any juices and the onion to the white sauce, fold it in and cook the mixture for a further 15 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. If you're making the base ahead of time, you can leave it to cool at this stage then freeze in an airtight container for up to a month. (Defrost fully before using in the next step.)
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Put the leeks in a pan with a little water, cover and cook until very soft. Drain, then return to the pan with the courgette, pesto and soft cheese, stir everything together, add the chicken base and stir well, then heat until just bubbling. Add a splash of water if it's very thick.
• Stir the pasta into the chicken mixture and tip into a large baking dish. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and grill the top until it browns.

CHEESY LEEK & SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the oil in a large pan, tip in the leeks and splash in a little hot water. Cover and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until no longer squeaky.
• While the leeks are cooking, boil the penne in salted water according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, tip the crème fraîche, sundried tomatoes and mustard into the leeks, add three-quarters of the cheese and season well. Stir until the cheese melts. Take off the heat.
• Drain the pasta, reserving the cooking water. Tip the pasta into the sauce and stir, adding enough cooking water to make the sauce coat the pasta. Stir in the spinach, a big handful at a time, until it wilts, splashing in a little more water if needed. Toss in the remaining cheese and serve.

SPAGHETTI WITH LEEKS, PEAS & PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the spaghetti according to pack instructions, adding the peas for the final 2 mins. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the leeks, then gently cook for about 5 mins until softened. Stir in the pesto and 3 tbsp of the pasta cooking water, then simmer for a few mins.
• Drain the pasta and peas, then add to the frying pan, tossing everything together. Divide between 2 warm bowls and sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan, if using.

CHEESY LEEK & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the leeks and 2 tbsp water, and cook for about 10 mins until very soft. Add the bacon, turn up the heat and fry until cooked.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and reserve a mug of the cooking water.
• Spoon cheese into the leek and bacon mix, adding some of the reserved cooking water. Season and stir gently over a low heat until melted. Toss through the cooked pasta, adding a little more cooking water, if needed, to help the sauce coat the pasta.

VEGAN CREAMY LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.
• Meanwhile, prepare your leeks: Trim 1/2 inch off both ends, then cut each leek crosswise, separating the bottom third of the white portion from the top two-thirds of light and dark leek greens. Halve the greens lengthwise, wash them, then set them aside.
• Halve your leek whites lengthwise, cut them crosswise into 2-inch segments, then slice those segments thinly lengthwise to create matchsticks. (If you notice any grit in the sliced leek whites, wash them thoroughly, transfer them to a dish towel, squeezing to remove excess moisture, then spread them out to dry.)
• In a small, deep saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high and line a baking sheet with paper towels. Working in three to four batches for even cooking, add about 1/4 of the white leek strips and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 4 minutes. The key here is to keep residual cooking in mind: Since your delicate leeks will continue cooking after being removed from the hot oil, you want to pull them from the hot oil when about a third of each batch is fully golden, a third is lightly golden and another third is still green. (They won't cook perfectly evenly; it's not you, it's them and the nature of cooking.) Remove them swiftly, using a slotted spoon and tilting the saucepan to transfer the leeks to the paper towel-lined plate. Season to taste with salt. Repeat with the remaining batches. Set the oil aside to cool.
• Add the pasta and leek greens to the boiling water, reduce the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just shy of al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water. Using tongs, transfer the leek greens to a blender, then pour the pasta into a colander set in the sink.
• Add the reserved leek oil to the leek greens, along with 2/3 cup pasta water and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper, and blend until creamy. Add the sauce to the pot and stir in the pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add more pasta water, if desired, to thin the sauce. Divide among plates and sprinkle with frizzled leeks. Grate fresh lemon zest on top, if desired, then squeeze with lemon. Serve immediately.

PASTA WITH LEEKS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Trim root end of leeks, then cut off hard green leaves, leaving a bit of green where they meet the white part. Split leeks down the middle, then chop them, not too finely. Wash very well, and spin or shake dry. Set a large pot of water to boil, and salt it.
• Put half the butter or oil in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. A minute later add garlic and chilies, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic browns; remove chilies (and garlic if you prefer). Add leeks, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they wilt, about 10 minutes. Add pepper or tomato, and mushrooms, lower heat; continue to cook, stirring once in a while, until leeks begin to brown.
• Cook pasta until tender but not mushy. When it's done, drain it, reserving about ½ cup cooking liquid. Toss pasta and leeks together with remaining butter or oil, a few sprinklings of black pepper and all but a little of the parsley, adding a bit of cooking liquid if mixture seems dry. Taste and adjust seasoning, garnish with remaining parsley, and serve.

PASTA WITH LEEKS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Cut the leek in half and clean well. Discard the bottom root part and the top green leaves. Slice into 1/2 inch thick slices.
• In a saucepan heat some water to cook the sausages. Prick the sausages and boil for about 5 minutes. Remove sausages and let cool.
• In a large skillet heat the olive oil and add garlic and leeks. Saute over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add the bouillon cube, spices, 1/2 cup water, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Slice the sausages and add to the leeks. Let cook together over for about 10 minutes.
• Toss this with cooked short pasta and serve.
• This is great with a tomato or carrot salad.

PASTA WITH LEEKS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Dry roast the pine nuts and set aside.
• Trim the root end of the leeks, then cut off the hard green leaves, leaving a bit of green where they meet the white part. Split the leeks down the middle, discard the outer white leaves (the ones that don't cut easily), then chop the leeks (or cut them with kitchen scissors into one inch or 2.5cm pieces). Wash very well, and spin or shake dry.
• Set a large pot of water to boil, and salt it.
• Put half the butter or oil in a large pan, preferably non-stick, on medium-high heat.
• Add the garlic and chillies, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic browns. Remove the chillies (and garlic if you prefer).
• Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until they wilt, about 10 minutes.
• Add the capsicum or tomato and lower the heat; add the cumin and continue to cook, stirring once in a while, until the leeks begin to brown.
• Cook the pasta until it is tender - al dente, and drain, reserving about half a cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta and the leeks, add the pine nuts, the baby spinach leaves (added at this stage, they will be just wilted but no more) together with the remaining butter or oil, freshly ground black pepper to taste and all but a little of the parsley, adding a bit of cooking liquid if the mixture seems dry.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning, garnish with the remaining parsley and serve.

LEEK AND GORGONZOLA PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
• Add chopped onions and saute until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add leeks, green onions and shallots, saute until very tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite.
• Drain well, reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Return pasta to same pot.
• Add onion mixture, toss to combine.
• Mix in reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if pasta is dry.
• Mix in cheese, season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to large bowl, serve.