Spicy Summer Squash And Pasta Food

SPICY SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using pumpkin or calabaza, cut into wedges; if using butternut squash, cut in half. Remove seeds; reserve for another use. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place squash, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes. Flip squash; bake until very tender, 40 to 50 minutes more. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Scoop flesh into a medium bowl; discard skins.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, a large pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon each thyme, sage, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until garlic is golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add squash; cook, stirring and mashing with a spoon, until heated through.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt. Add pasta; cook until al dente. Drain well.
• Heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cooked pasta, parsley, and remaining thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt. Toss to combine; cook until heated through.
• Divide pasta evenly among serving bowls. Top with squash mixture and ricotta, dividing evenly. Garnish with parsley; drizzle with oil. Serve with Parmesan.

SUMMER SQUASH PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Add the zucchini, yellow squash and mushrooms; saute for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and basil. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Toss with pasta; sprinkle with cheese if desired.

SUMMER SQUASH PASTA SALAD WITH CHIMICHURRI VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the chimichurri vinaigrette: With the motor running, drop the garlic cloves through the food chute of a food processor and pulse until minced. Remove the lid and add the parsley, olive oil, oregano, vinegar, lemon juice and crushed red pepper. Process until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set the vinaigrette aside.
• For the pasta salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 10 to 11 minutes, adding the zucchini and summer squash during the last 1 minute of cooking. Drain, then run under cold water to cool the pasta and squash. Drain again, then transfer the pasta and squash to a serving bowl.
• Add the tomatoes and vinaigrette. Add the feta and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with additional parsley.

SPICY SUMMER SQUASH AND PASTA

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• Saute onion in olive oil with hot pepper and garlic for 5 minutes.
• Add squash and dried herbs. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until squash is softened but not mushy.
• Add tomatoes and beans, add salt and pepper to taste, and cook until heated through.
• Serve squash sauce over noodles and top with fresh herbs and cheese.

SPICY BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large covered pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with high sides and a tight-fitting lid (or a Dutch oven), heat the oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add the squash and season with salt, cumin and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring every minute, until squash becomes browned in spots and feels just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until not quite al dente, 3 to 4 minutes less than the package instructions. (It should be a little too firm to the bite.) Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain. If the pasta is done before the squash, then stir in a drizzle of olive oil so that it doesn't stick together.
• When the squash is just tender, add the broth. Bring to an active simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft and easily mashable, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off the heat, then use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to crush about half of the butternut squash and leave the rest chunky. Season the squash to taste, keeping in mind that salty Parmesan will be added soon.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with 1 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, stirring vigorously to combine. Stir in the spinach one handful at a time until it shrinks down a little.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, the mozzarella and jalapeño, then place in the oven, on a sheet pan if you are worried about dripping. Cook until the top is melted and browned in spots, 12 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil, top with parsley and serve.

SPAGHETTI WITH SUMMER SQUASH AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat for the spaghetti.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the squashes, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and oregano in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and give it all a good toss. Dump that out onto a baking sheet and roast for 10 to 12 minutes, until the squash is tender and caramelized. Scrape the vegetables into a large pasta bowl and cover with a plate to keep everything warm.
• The pasta water should be boiling by now. Add the spaghetti and stir to separate the strands. Cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until al dente.
• To finish, scoop out about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain the pasta, and toss gently with the roasted vegetables and Grilled Shrimp. Add the pasta water if needed.

SUMMER PASTA WITH ZUCCHINI, RICOTTA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Put a pot of water on to boil. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onions in 3 tablespoons olive oil until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat as necessary to keep onions from browning. Add zucchini, season generously with salt and pepper, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until rather soft, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat.
• Meanwhile, use a mortar and pestle to pound garlic, basil and a little salt into a rough paste (or use a mini food processor). Stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil.
• Salt the pasta water well and put in the pasta, stirring. Boil per package instructions but make sure to keep pasta quite al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
• Add cooked pasta to zucchini in skillet and turn heat to medium-high. Add 1/2 cup cooking water, then the ricotta, crushed red pepper and lemon zest, stirring to distribute. Check seasoning and adjust. Cook for 1 minute more. Mixture should look creamy. Add a little more pasta water if necessary. Add the basil paste and half the grated cheese and quickly stir to incorporate. Spoon pasta into warm soup plates and sprinkle with additional cheese. Serve immediately.