Spicy Zucchini And Ricotta Pasta Shells Food

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.

ZUCCHINI RICOTTA PASTA SKILLET (COOKING FOR 2)

Steps:

• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add zucchini; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until zucchini begins to brown. Add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Remove from skillet.
• Add pasta and broth to same skillet; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 11 to 13 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente. (There will be a little liquid left in the skillet.)
• Stir in ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and sautéed zucchini. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and basil. Transfer to serving bowl; garnish with more chopped basil, if desired. Serve with more Parmesan cheese on the side, if desired.

FETTUCCINE WITH SHREDDED ZUCCHINI, FRESH RICOTTA, AND LEMON ZEST

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water over high heat. When the water is at a rolling boil, add a big pinch of salt, drop in the fettucine, and stir. Cook the pasta, stirring from time to time, according to package directions for al dente, usually about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is warm, add the garlic and sauté until golden, about 1 minute. Add the lemon zest and cook for 30 seconds longer. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the zucchini, and cook, stirring, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove and reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and quickly toss with the zucchini, parsley, and mint. Spoon on the ricotta and toss lightly again, add small amounts of the cooking water to lighten the cheese to the consistency you like, and serve.

PASTA SHELLS WITH ZUCCHINI & SPINACH

Steps:

• FILLING: Melt butter over medium heat in a large, heavy dutch oven.
• Add onions& garlic; cook until onions are tender& wilted, stirring occasionally.
• PREPARE ZUCCHINI: Wash well, taste a bit of the skin from each& peel only if it tastes bitter.
• Grate& place in a colander in the sink.
• sprinkle with about 2 tsps of salt& let excess liquid drain for 30 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water to remove most of the salt& then toss on a clean tea towel (or paper towels) to dry before cooking.
• Add drained zucchini to dutch oven& cook until any moisture evaporates.
• PREPARE SPINACH: Wash well& trim off tough stems.
• Place leaves, with water from washing still clinging to them, in a large pot.
• Cook for a few minutes or just until leaves have wilted.
• Let cool, then wring dry in a clean tea towel& chop.
• Add spinach to the dutch oven and combine thoroughly.
• Remove from heat& allow the mixture to cool.
• Drain off excess liquid.
• Beat eggs in a medium sized bowl; add ricotta& beat until smooth.
• Add Parmesan and seasonings; mix well.
• Combine with vegetable mixture in the dutch oven, mix thoroughly; set aside.
• SAUCE: Melt butter in large, heavy pot; cook onions& garlic until tender and wilted.
• Add tomatoes, including their liquid, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
• Cook for 30- 45 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
• Purée and test for seasonings.
• Set aside.
• Pasta: Cook shells in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions until"el dente".
• Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
• Using a colander, gently shake shells to drain excess water.
• Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish.
• Spoon some of the filling into each shell& arrange, stuffed side up, in the casserole dish.
• Pour sauce over the shells& sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• (If you can only find small shells, just layer them on the bottom of the casserole dish, cover with a layer of filling, a layer of sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan).
• Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.

ZUCCHINI & RICOTTA SHELLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• In a large bowl, toss together pasta, ricotta, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and half of the reserved cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, quarter each zucchini lengthwise. With knife, cut away core; cut on bias into slices.
• In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute zucchini until tender, about 5 minutes. Add to pasta, along with mint, green onion, lemon juice, and enough cooking liquid for desired creaminess, tossing to coat.