Rustic Summer Vegetable Pasta Food

RUSTIC SUMMER VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook and stir until tender. Remove from pan., In same pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, eggplant and mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir in oregano, parsley and half of the basil; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain; add spaghetti and squash to vegetable mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil; toss to combine. Top with cheese and remaining basil.

GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes (reserving the juice for another use if desired). Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Crush the tomatoes with your hand, adding them to the saucepan as you go. Season with salt and pepper. Add the basil and parsley sprigs (reserve the chopped herbs for later) and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook at a very low simmer for about 15 minutes or until ready to serve.
• While the sauce cooks, heat a large double-burner grill pan over medium-high heat. Toss the pepper, squash, zucchini and onion with the remaining tablespoon olive oil, making sure to coat all sides. Sprinkle with salt and grill, turning once, until well-marked and crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on the vegetable. Transfer the onion to a large mixing bowl. Transfer the pepper, squash and zucchini to a cutting board and cut crosswise into strips. Add to the bowl with the onion and cover with foil.
• Cook the penne in the boiling water according to package directions. Drain and add to the bowl with the vegetables. Remove the herb sprigs from the sauce and stir in half of the chopped herbs. Add to the bowl and toss to coat.
• Serve the pasta in bowls topped with the remaining chopped herbs and Parmesan.

RUSTIC SAUSAGE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Brown the sausage, stirring to crumble, in a skillet over medium heat. Remove sausage using a slotted spoon, leaving drippings in the pan. Cook and stir the onion and garlic in the sausage drippings until the onions are softened. Return the sausage to the pan. Stir in the red bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Cook another 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, thyme, basil, and oregano; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Combine the drained pasta with the sausage mixture in a large bowl. Top with Parmesan cheese to serve.

PASTA WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a saucepan of boiling water boil the fava beans for 4 to 5 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain the beans, let them cool until they can be handled, and peel off and discard the tough outer skins. In a steamer set over boiling water steam the zucchini, covered, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until it is just tender. In a large bowl combine the beans, the zucchini, the tomatoes, the onion, drained well if soaked, the garlic, the bell pepper, the parsley, the oil, and salt and black pepper to taste and toss the mixture until it is combined well. In a kettle of boiling salted water boil the gemellini until it is al dente, drain it, and while it is still hot add it to the vegetable mixture, tossing the mixture until it is combined well. Serve the pasta warm or at room temperature with the Parmesan.

RUSTIC BAKED PASTA WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place zucchini, onion, tomatoes (skin side down) and garlic cloves on large baking sheet, combine with olive oil and 1 tsp Italian spices and several grinds of freshly ground black pepper. Place in oven and set timer for 30 minutes. Turn zucchini slices and onions about halfway through.
• Meanwhile, place large pot of water on stove over high heat. When water is boiling, add kosher salt and pasta. Cook until pasta is about 3/4 done, approximately 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Check vegetables after 30 minutes and remove from oven when nicely roasted. Set aside to cool. When vegetables are cool, remove peel from garlic cloves and roughly chop the other vegetables. Set aside.
• Combine ricotta, 8 ounces mozzarella, parmigiana cheese, eggs,1 tsp Italian spices and several grinds of freshly ground pepper in large bowl.
• Reset oven to 350 degrees F. In a large baking dish, combine roasted vegetables and pasta. Add sausage and tomato sauce. Top with cheese mixture and gently mix. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake covered with aluminum foil for approximately 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for another 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned on top.
• Serve to a hungry crowd.