Mixed Fresh Herb Pasta Recipes

HERB AND CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
• Meanwhile, season chicken with salt and pepper, basil, rosemary, Cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add chicken and cook until browned. Remove chicken from skillet and stir in garlic and onions; cook and stir until clear.
• Return chicken to skillet over onion mixture and add broth. Simmer until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside; spread mixture over pasta and serve.

PASTA AND HERBS

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to the package directions.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in the herbs.
• Drain the pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the butter mixture and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with black olive slices and serve.

MIXED FRESH HERB PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water; bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt and pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, place shallots on a cutting board, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Using the side of a chef's knife, crush into a paste. Transfer to a medium bowl, and add oil and lemon juice. Whisk to combine. Add herbs and fennel fronds to shallot paste, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Drain the pasta in a colander, and return to pot. Stir in the herb sauce. Serve warm.

MIXED-HERB PASTA WITH RED BELL PEPPERS AND FETA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add peppers and cook until crisp-tender, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add wine; boil until reduced by 1/3, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta and reserved cooking liquid to pot. Add pepper mixture, herbs, and cheese. Toss gently but thoroughly until cheese begins to melt. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

FRESH HERB PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• Wash and dry your fresh herbs. Basil, chives, spinach, arugula, green onion, baby salad greens, or any combination of fresh herbs/greens will work well.
• Coarsely chop the herbs with kitchen shears or a knife. Place in a sturdy bowl and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Use a pestle, dowel or even the handle of a whisk to grind the salt and herbs together into a wet paste.
• Add the flour and eggs to the bowl and mix well. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until a rough dough forms and there's no dry flour in the bowl. The dough will be fairly stiff, and firmer than bread dough.
• Turn the dough out onto your work surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and springy. Wrap well in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes. Note: you may also choose to do this in a stand mixer, or in your bread machine set on the dough cycle. If you use your bread machine, cancel the cycle after about 10 minutes of kneading, and remove the dough.
• Following the instructions on your pasta machine, roll the dough to the desired thickness. Allow the sheets to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into strips. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Cook the fresh pasta for 3 to 4 minutes, testing for doneness after 3 minutes. Drain the pasta and serve as desired. A simple dressing of melted butter and fresh Parmesan cheese is outstanding, and lets the flavors of the herbs shine through.