Pesto And Penne With Tomatoes And Artichoke Hearts Recipes

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are finely chopped. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

PENNE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Meanwhile, pluck the basil leaves from the stems (you should have about 2 cups leaves). Wash the leaves in a large bowl of cold water and dry in a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels. Smash and peel the garlic.
• Put the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the processor running, gradually add the olive oil and process until the pesto is smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large bowl and stir in the cheese. Season with the salt and some pepper.
• Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the penne and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and save about 1/4 cup pasta cooking water. Add the pasta to the bowl. Use tongs and toss with enough of the cooking water so the pesto coats the pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
• Upgrades: a. Make the pesto creamy by adding 1/4 cup ricotta cheese when processing the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. This is great with tortellini or ravioli. b. Top dressed pesto pasta with 1/2 pound diced large or halved small fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), 3 medium tomatoes cut in large chunks, and 1/2 cup pitted black olives, (we like kalamata for this), roughly chopped. c. Add cooked 1 to 2 cups chicken or shrimp.
• Twists on Pesto: In place of basil, try the following combination: 1 cup parsley, 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves. Substitute walnuts for the pine nuts

CHICKEN, ARTICHOKE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat and add salt.
• Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until barely tender, about 4 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta.
• In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil on MEDIUM.
• Add the chicken and garlic and cook throughout (about 3-5 minutes).
• Add the artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, reserved cooking water, ginger, thyme, and pesto and cook 1-2 minutes more. Use my pesto recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/rz.193016.
• Toss all ingredients together with the pasta and cheese. Add more cheese is desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

PESTO AND PENNE WITH TOMATOES AND ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• 1. Heat 3 tbsp. reserved oil/marinade from artichoke hearts in a heavy pot over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender.
• 2. Add tomatoes with juice, drained artichoke hearts and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly.
• 3. Add pesto and simmer 1 minute. Mix in cooked pasta and 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
• 4. Transfer to a large bowl, garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES, ARTICHOKES AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta while making the sauce.
• Gently heat a large saute pan over medium heat for about 1 minute.
• add 1 TB of the olive oil, the onion, the garlic, the rosemary and the red pepper flakes. Sautee until the onions are starting to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are starting to brown and the mushrooms have released their juices and have softened, about 8 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas and break the plum tomatoes into pieces with your hands. Add them to the pan along with their juice and the diced tomatoes.
• After the tomatoes have cooked for about 5 minutes add the artichoke hearts. Stir and cover until the artichokes are heated through and the tomatoes are just beginning to thicken.
• Add the sugar and salt, stir and cook gently over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes stirring now and then.
• Add the final TB of olive oil after you've turned off the heat and stir it inches.
• Serve over Penne sprinkled with the Romano.

QUICK PENNE PESTO WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Tear corner of Ready Pasta pouch to vent. Heat in the microwave for one minute.
• Combine pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste; add pasta and toss.
• Top with basil and pine nuts.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, ARTICHOKES, AND PESTO CREAM

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden all over. Add artichokes, tomatoes, cream, and pesto. Bring to a simmer and stir frequently for 3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Fold in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook 1 minute longer to heat through. Add more cream if neneed to thin out sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES, PESTO AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil reserved from artichokes in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is tender, about 7 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices and artichokes. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 8 minutes. Add pesto; simmer 1 minute longer. Mix in pasta and 1/3 cup cheese. Season pasta with salt and pepper.Transfer pasta to large bowl. Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately.