Royal Fusilli With Asparagus And Peas Food

SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• First, prep your vegetables. Then bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta for two minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in your largest frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown (about 5 minutes).
• Add the asparagus and garlic, season with salt, and cook until the asparagus is knife-tender and bright green (about 3 minutes). Stir in the peas and cook until the peas are bright green (about 2 minutes).
• Add the drained pasta to the pan along with 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to coat. Cook until the sauce starts to coat the pasta (about 2 minutes). Remove the pan from heat and transfer its contents to a large serving bowl. Add the cheese and butter and stir to coat. (Add more pasta water as needed. The sauce should just cling to the pasta.)
• Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs and pine nuts. Taste and adjust seasonings as required (add a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes and/or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired). Grate some cheese over the top and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.

PASTA, PESTO, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.
• Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 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. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
• Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.
• To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

FUSILLI WITH LEMON CREAM SAUCE, ASPARAGUS, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook pasta until al dente, adding the asparagus for the last minute of cooking time.
• Place the peas in a colander, then drain the pasta and asparagus over the top of them (this will just heat the peas without overcooking them).
• In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Combine broth and cornstarch, add to pan and bring to a boil.
• Cook, stirring, until broth starts to thicken, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and add cream, juice, salt, and peppers.
• Stir to combine.
• Add pasta and vegetables to the sauce, tossing gently to coat.
• Serve immediately.

FUSILLI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the asparagus during the last minute of cooking. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain the pasta and asparagus.
• Meanwhile, slice the corn kernels off the cobs. Run the back side of the knife down the cob over a bowl to remove any corn milk. You should get about 2 tablespoons.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, fennel, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook until the fennel is browned in spots and tender, about 4 minutes. Add the corn kernels and corn milk and another 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta and 1 cup cooking water to the skillet and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley, cheese, tarragon and butter until creamy, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with more cheese and pepper; drizzle with olive oil.

FUSILLI WITH SPINACH, ASPARAGUS, AND ASIAGO CHEESE

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 pasta reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Microwave the asparagus with a little bit of water for about 2:30 minutes or until bright green and tender. Drain and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Meanwhile, warm olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts, about 2 more minutes. Add the asparagus and cooked pasta and toss. Add the cheeses, salt, pepper, and the pasta cooking liquid and stir to combine. Transfer the pasta to a serving plate and serve.

FUSILLI WITH ASPARAGUS AND BACON

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet, then add oil and onion to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 4 minutes.
• Add asparagus and sauté, stirring, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• While onion is cooking, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander.
• Return pasta to pot along with asparagus mixture, 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, and cheese. Add remaining 1/2 cup cooking water to skillet and deglaze by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Add to pasta and toss over moderately low heat until combined well, about 30 seconds.
• Serve pasta sprinkled with bacon and with additional cheese on the side.

FUSILLI IN CREAMY VEGAN ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Process 1 garlic clove in a blender until finely chopped. Add ⅓ cup cashews and 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt and blend until cashews are finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add 1 cup packed basil leaves and half of asparagus (about 4 oz.) and process until a smooth paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With processor running, stream in ⅓ cup olive oil and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice until combined.
• Cook 12 oz. whole wheat fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 1 minute less than package directions. Add remaining asparagus and cook for 1 minute more. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, then drain pasta and asparagus.
• Return pasta and asparagus to pot and add pesto. Toss, adding pasta cooking liquid ¼ cup at a time, until desired texture is achieved. Top each serving with additional basil leaves.