Category Archives: pasta

Spicy Ramen from Terry

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spicy-ramen-bowlThis is nicely spicy. David liked it enough to ask me to make notes so I could make it again for him. I think you can add whatever you like to this soup. It’s the Lady Sauce that makes it yummy with the spice.

1 teaspoon Lady Sauce
2 cups water
1 package ramen noodles
spice packet or chicken base
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1 egg
drizzle of toasted sesame oil
chopped scallions

nn a small saucepan heat the Lady Sauce for a minute or so just to “cook” it a little. Add the water and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spice packet or the chicken base and stir to combine. Add the bean sprouts. Drain the excess white from an egg and add the egg careful to the hot soup. Bring the noodles over the egg and let sit for a minute. Drizzle with a bit of the sesame oil. Add some chopped scallions for a garnish and serve. Serving Size: 1

Notes:

The Lady Sauce is Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp Sauce which I bought from Amazon after reading about it on http://www.thewoksoflife.com blog. Her family called it Lady Sauce because of the women on the label. It seems the Chinese translation of this sauce is Godmother.

Linguine with White Clam Sauce, Anne Burrell

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Extra-virgin olive oil
9 cloves garlic, smashed
5 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed under cold running water
1 cup white wine
1/2 cup water
1 large pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound linguine
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped oregano leaves
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, optional, plus shavings for garnish
Kosher salt
Big fat finishing extra-virgin olive oil (high quality)

Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add half the garlic cloves. Bring the pan to a medium- high heat and cook until the garlic becomes golden brown. When the garlic is golden brown and very aromatic, remove it and discard, it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Put 3 1/2 dozen clams in the pan with the wine and 1/2 cup of water. Cover the pan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Cover and cook until the clams open, about 10 minutes. Remove the clams from the pan and reduce the cooking liquid. Let the clams cool slightly, then remove them from the shells and reserve. Discard the shells. Pour the cooking liquid into a measuring cup.

Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil over medium heat.

Coat the same saute pan again with olive oil and add the remaining garlic cloves and a large pinch of crushed pepper flakes. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook until the garlic becomes golden brown. When the garlic is golden brown and very aromatic, remove it and discard, it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the remaining raw clams and reserved clam cooking liquid to the pan. When adding the reserved clam liquid, be sure to check for sand and grit in the bottom, you may lose the last couple of tablespoons of juice but that is better than sand in your pasta! Cover and cook until the clams open.

While the clams are cooking, drop the linguine into the salted boiling water and cook until the pasta is very “al dente” maybe a minute or so less than the box directs.

Remove the cooked clams in their shells from the pan and keep warm. Add the butter and cooked clams that have been removed from their shells back to the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil and toss in the cooked pasta and the herbs. Cook the pasta together with the sauce until the sauce clings to the pasta. Turn off the heat and toss in the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, if using, and finish with a drizzle of big fat finishing oil. Toss or stir vigorously to combine.

Divide the pasta into serving dishes and garnish with the clams that are still in their shells and a little more shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, if desired.

Florentine Lasagna by Terry

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1122-Lasagna-Florentine
1 pound spinach — fresh
1 pound mushroom — fresh sliced
1 cup onion — chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup bechamel sauce
nutmeg — fresh
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese — freshly grated
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon basil — dried
1 tablespoon oregano — dried
1 package lasagna noodles — fresh
3 cups mozzarella cheese — fresh
1 can tomato sauce — small size

Blanch the spinach, drain pressing out excess moisture and set aside.
Saute the sliced mushrooms until they release their moisture and it cooks
off. Add the onions and saute until they are transparent. Add the garlic.
Add a little more oil if needed, a couple of tablespoons of flour and cook
for a few minutes. Add milk to make your bechamel. Make sure it’s rather
thick. Taste and add a generous grating of fresh nutmeg. Set aside until
cool.

Cook the lasagne noodles until just slightly underdone. Drain.
Mix ricotta, 1/2 of the Parmesan, egg, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano.(Rub
the basil and oregano between your hands as you add it to release the
natural oils).

Add the cooled spinach mixture to the ricotta mixture and combine gently.

Oil the bottom of your baking pan with a little olive oil. Start your layers
with the noodles then the ricotta-spinach mixture and so forth until you
have about 4 layers.ending with a noodle layer Top with the remaining
Parmesan cheese. Add the mozzarella cheese. I used the marinated fresh
mozzarella which has a wonderful basil flavor. I get it at the deli counter
at my supermarket. They are the small balls about the size of a large
marble. I slice them up and arrange on top of the lasagne. Add one small can
of tomato sauce. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350F for 1 hour.

Remove from the oven after 1 hour and let it rest for 30 minutes before
cutting.
You can assemble this a day ahead if you like. It’s always wonderful
reheated.

The important thing with this recipe is to use all fresh ingredients. If you
can’t buy the fresh lasagna noodles you can use the dry but It would not be
as tasty. Serves 6

Heaven and Hell Cauliflower Pasta

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adapted from Judy Rodgers’ “Zuni Cafe Cookbook”

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1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
Extra virgin olive oil
8 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tin of anchovies, chopped (I know, I know, it’s a lot: trust me)
1 – 2 Tbs fennel seeds
Red pepper flakes to taste (depending on how spicy you like it)
1 pound pasta (ziti works best)
Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

2. In a large saute pan, coat the bottom with olive oil and turn up the heat to medium-high. Leave it for a minute or two until adding a piece of cauliflower makes it sizzle.

3. In a bowl, combine the garlic, the anchovies, the fennel seeds and red pepper. This is your bowl of flavor.

4. When the oil is hot enough, add half your cauliflower: or just enough so it’s all in one layer. Leave it for a bit (a few minutes) then toss around until the cauliflower is a deep, golden brown all over. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Remove the caramelized cauliflower to a plate and add the other half of the raw cauliflower and repeat this step. You may need to add more oil too, depending on how much the first batch absorbed.

6. Cook the rest of the cauliflower until golden brown (don’t forget to season it too; taste, so you know if it tastes good), add the rest of the cauliflower back in and then add HALF your spice mixture.

7. At the same time that you add half your spice mixture, your water should be at a boil. If it’s not, wait to add the spices or the garlic might burn. If your water’s at a boil, add a LOT of salt (the water should taste salty, like the sea) and then add a box of penne or ziti to the boiling water. Stir around so it doesn’t stick together.

8. As the pasta cooks, stir the cauliflower around along with half the spice mixture: about 30 seconds or so. Then ladle in a big ladleful of the pasta cooking water to the cauliflower pan. This’ll be your “sauce.” If the water sputters and spurts when you add it, lower the heat. How much water really depends on how long it takes the pasta to cook and how much water the cauliflower absorbs. Suffice it to say, you don’t want it to be soupy; just thickish liquid at the bottom of the pan.

9. When the pasta’s done cooking (start tasting it after 5 minutes; it should be pretty al dente when you add it to the cauliflower mixture) lift the cooked pasta into the cauliflower using a slotted spoon or, much better, a spider. (You can buy them in Chinatown for $5.)

10. Stir the pasta together with the cauliflower with the heat still on until you’re happy with the amount of liquid in there (the pasta tubes will carry some water with them too). I usually do it until there’s no liquid left at the bottom of the pan.

11. Take the pan off the heat and add, in no particular order: a splash of cold olive oil (it’s an Italian trick via Mario Batali’s show), the rest of the spice mixture and then your grated cheese. Stir all around and taste.

Pasta with shitake with mushroom sauce sage sauce

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pasta used green pasta from international store in winchester, cooks in 3 min.
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup chopped shallots
12 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps thickly sliced
2 oz dry white wine
3/4 cup whipping cream or 2% milk
chopped fresh sage
pecorino or parmesan grated
save a bit of pasta water for the sauce

Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add shallots; sauté 2 minute. Add mushrooms; sauté until brown, about 7 minutes. Add wine and cream. Boil until sauce thickens and coats spoon, about 5 minutes. Stir in sage. Season with salt and pepper. Add pasta; toss until heated through and serve.

Lemon Fusilli with Arugula — Ina

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1 tablespoon good olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 cloves)
2 cups heavy cream
3 lemons
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch broccoli
1 pound dried fusilli pasta
1/2 pound baby arugula (or 2 bunches of common arugula, leaves cut in thirds)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook for 60 seconds. Add the cream, the zest from 2 lemons, the juice of 2 lemons, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until it starts to thicken.

Meanwhile, cut the broccoli in florets and discard the stem. Cook the florets in a pot of boiling salted water for 3 to 5 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain the broccoli and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the package, about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta in a colander and place it back into the pot. Immediately add the cream mixture and cook it over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, until most of the sauce has been absorbed in the pasta. Pour the hot pasta into a large bowl, add the arugula, Parmesan, tomatoes, and cooked broccoli. Cut the last lemon in half lengthwise, slice it 1/4-inch thick crosswise, and add it to the pasta. Toss well, season to taste, and serve hot.

Pasta, Pesto, and Peas — Ina

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  • 3/4 pound fusilli pasta
  • 3/4 pound bow tie pasta
  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups pesto (packaged or see recipe below)
  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 1/4 cups good mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted
  • 1/3 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

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.

Pesto:

  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • 1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
  • 5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups good olive oil
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

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.

Yield: 4 cups

Tomato and Smoked Salmon Pasta

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Top Tomato 2012 finalist Mehan Dossani says this dish reminds her of a bagel with lox and tomato. It comes together in less than 20 minutes, and it’s her go-to recipe when she has leftover smoked salmon in the fridge. For the pasta, she is partial to perciatelli (long, hollow tubes), but you can use your preferred variety.

  • 8 ounces dried pasta, such as perciatelli
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, preferably a fruity variety
  • 1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, put through a garlic press or very finely chopped and pressed with the side of a knife blade
  • 2 medium to large ripe tomatoes (12 to 16 ounces), coarsely chopped, with their juices
  • 1 ounce cream cheese
  • 8 ounces smoked salmon, coarsely chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup torn or chopped basil leaves, packed
  • Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Bring a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta, cook according to the package directions and drain.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and cook for about 10 seconds, then add the tomatoes and their juices. Increase the heat to medium-high; cook the tomatoes for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften, then use a wooden spoon to break up the pieces and mash them down a little. When the tomatoes and their liquid begin to bubble gently around the edges of the skillet, cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese, stirring until it has melted. Add the smoked salmon, season with pepper to taste and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.

Add the drained pasta to the sauce, toss to coat and let the pasta soak in the sauce for a moment. Stir in the basil, sprinkle with Parmesan to taste and serve.

2 to 4 servings

Broccoli Sauce for pasta

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1 bunch of broccoli ( about 1 1/2 lbs)
1/4 c. olive oil or less
4 garlic cloves, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3 c. warm water
1/2 lb pasta
1/3 c. freshly grated romano or parmesan cheese, plus more for garnis

Cut off and discard about 1/2 inch of the end of the broccoli stem.  Cut the broccoli into flowerettes.  Trim the tough leaves, cut the stems into large dice. Set all aside

Heat the oil in a heavy sauce pan.  Add the garlic, s&p and red pepper flakes.  saute slowly on low heat until the garlic is lightly browned.

Remove the pan from the burner and gently pour in the warm water to start the sauce.  Let the water and oil misture boil briskly for a minute, then add the broccoli.  Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.  Add more s&p and red pepper to taste.

Cook the pasta, reserve some of the cooking liquid.  Put the drained pasta in a large skillet and pour the cooked broccoli sauce on top.  sprinkle with the grated cheese, cover and simmer for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.  Or to make it the peasant-style add the cooked pasta to the pan of broccoli, toss a couple of times until well mixed, then serve.  Sprinkle each serving with more cheese.

Serves 6.