Linguine Wtih Asparagus And Pine Nuts Recipes

PASTA WITH BACON, CHEESE, LEMON AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Put the cheese, herbs and red pepper flakes on the table. Zest the lemon and put the zest on the table in a small serving bowl. Cut the lemon in half.
• Put bacon in a medium-size heavy pot and turn the heat on low. Cook, turning occasionally, until fat has rendered and bacon is chewy-crisp, about 10 minutes. Lift out bacon pieces and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Keep warm on top of the stove.
• When the water boils, add pasta, stir well and cover. When the water comes back to the boil, uncover and stir again.
• Put 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan and melt it over medium-low heat. When it foams, throw in the pine nuts and cook, shaking the pan, until they turn brown and toasty. Turn off heat and squeeze the lemon into the pan, cupping your hand underneath to catch any pits. Stir and set aside. Transfer bacon to a serving bowl and place on the table.
• As soon as the pasta is tender (it will cook a bit more later on), drain it, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Immediately return the pasta to the pan over low heat. Toss in a chunk of butter. Add a splash of cooking water and a pinch of salt, stir well, cover and let rest 1 minute. Taste and adjust the seasonings until the pasta is completely cooked and tasty (but plain).
• For those who like plain pasta or pasta with just butter and cheese, set aside a good amount in serving bowls. For others, pour the pine nuts and butter into the pasta remaining in the pot, add another splash of cooking water, and toss to combine. Serve from the pot or in a serving bowl, passing the various toppings.

ASPARAGUS WITH PROSCIUTTO AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the prosciutto, garlic, and pine nuts in the melted butter until the garlic is fragrant and the nuts begin to turn brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice.
• Bring a pot filled with lightly salted water to boil. Gently boil the asparagus until the bright green and barely tender, about 3 minutes; drain. Add the asparagus to the prosciutto mixture and toss to mix evenly. Season with salt and pepper; serve hot.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat; add pine nuts. Cook and stir pine nuts until fragrant and toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour enough water into a skillet to reach a 1-inch depth; bring to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove asparagus from skillet, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Set aside 1/2 cup asparagus tips.
• Blend remaining asparagus, pine nuts, reserved 1/2 cup cooking water, 1/2 cup basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper in a blender until smooth, keeping the center piece of lid removed to release steam. Add Pecorino-Romano cheese; blend until smooth.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain and return pasta to pot.
• Slice the remaining 1/4 cup basil. Add sliced basil, asparagus sauce, reserved asparagus tips to pasta; toss to evenly mix. Garnish with extra Pecorino-Romano cheese.

CREAMY FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a small skillet over medium heat, toast pine nuts, stirring often, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook fettuccine until al dente, according to package instructions, adding asparagus during last 5 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water; drain.
• Return pasta, asparagus, and reserved pasta water to the pot. Toss with goat cheese, mustard, dill, and toasted pine nuts. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PANCETTA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; add asparagus to pan during last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain. Sprinkle pasta mixture with garlic; return to pan, and toss well.
• Arrange pine nuts in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 400° for 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Place in a small bowl.
• Increase oven temperature to 475°.
• Arrange pancetta on jelly-roll pan. Bake at 475° for 6 minutes or until crisp.
• Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle over pasta mixture; toss well.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PROSCIUTTO, PINE NUTS AND SHAVED PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the asparagus, prosciutto, Parmesan and pine nuts in a large baking dish or on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper (light on the salt, as prosciutto and Parm are salty). Toss together all the ingredients to evenly incorporate.
• Bake until the prosciutto and cheese are crisp, about 12 minutes.

GRILLED CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and put into a large serving bowl.
• While the pasta cooks, preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. On a baking sheet lined with foil lay the asparagus out in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• Grill the chicken for approximately 4-6 minutes then flip over and grill another 4-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°-165° F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting it.
• While the chicken cooks place the prepared asparagus onto the grill grates horizontally. Grill for 2 minutes then roll or flip them over with tongs and grill another 1-2 minutes. Cut into approximately 2 inch pieces.
• Add the chopped chicken and asparagus to the bowl with the pasta. Add in the pesto, lemon juice and shredded romano or parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and toss everything together until coated. Taste for seasoning. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and chopped fresh basil if desired. Serve warm or cold.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS PESTO

Steps:

• In a 6- to 7-quart kettle bring about 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
• Have ready a bowl of ice water. Trim woody ends from asparagus. Cut asparagus stalks crosswise into 2-inch pieces, reserving tips. In a steamer set over boiling water steam stalks, covered, 4 minutes. Add reserved asparagus tips and steam, covered, until just tender, about 1 minute. Immediately transfer asparagus to ice water to stop cooking. Drain asparagus well in a colander and pat dry.
• In a food processor pulse pine nuts and garlic with salt until finely chopped. Add asparagus and oil and pulse until asparagus is coarsely chopped. Transfer pesto to a large bowl and stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/3 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander. Add pasta and reserved cooking water to pesto, tossing to coat, and season with salt and pepper.

ZITI WITH FRESH ASPARAGUS AND TOASTED PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cut peppers in half, and remove the seeds and membrane.
• Place prepared peppers, skin-side up, on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil 5 inches from the heating element for 15 to 20 minutes (until peppers blister and turn dark).
• Transfer roasted peppers to a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes.
• Peel off the skins from the peppers; cut into julienne strips, lightly salt and set aside.
• Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus; cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Steam the asparagus for 2 to 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Lightly salt and set aside.
• Coat a large heavy-bottomed skillet with olive oil; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add the peppers, garlic, onion powder and basil; saute for 2 minutes. Add the asparagus and saute for 1 minute; stir in the lemon juice.
• Remove vegetables from heat, and set aside.
• Cook the ziti according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in an electric blender or food processor, add the ricotta cheese, yogurt and sour cream; blend until smooth. Stir in the parsley.
• Add the ricotta mixture to the peppers and asparagus. Gently toss to combine.
• Transfer the cooked pasta to a large serving bowl; add the ricotta/peppers. Toss well to combine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and black pepper.