Pine Nut Feta Pasta Salad Recipes

ROASTED PEPPER SALAD WITH FETA, PINE NUTS & BASIL

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the top position and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the pepper halves on the prepared baking sheet and broil for 5-10 minutes, rotating the pan once, until well charred. Remove the peppers from the oven and place in a bowl; cover tightly with plastic wrap (so they steam) and let cool until luke warm.
• Peel the skin from the peppers (do not rinse under water) and cut into ¾-inch strips. Place back in the bowl; add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
• Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 4 minutes. Immediately transfer the nuts to a small bowl to stop the cooking process. (Pay close attention: they go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly.)
• Transfer the marinated peppers to a serving dish and top with the feta, olives, toasted pine nuts and remaining tablespoon basil (do not toss). Garnish with whole basil leaves if desired.

HOMEMADE HERBED PASTA WITH FETA, LEMON AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• For the pasta: Sift the flours into a pile on a clean work surface. Create a 6-inch well in the middle. Add the parsley, olive oil, eggs and yolks, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper to the well. Whisk gently with a fork. When the center is combined, begin to incorporate the flours into the eggs a little at a time. Once you can no longer use your fork, use your hands to knead the dough. When the dough is shaggy, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Divide the dough into 2. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Roll out the dough, using semolina flour as needed. The pasta should be about 2 centimeters thick. Fold the pasta in half lengthwise, then in half again. Slice into 3/4-inch wide ribbons, or desired width. Shake out the noodles and hold in nests.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it ferociously. Cook the pasta to al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 2 cups pasta water.
• For the feta, lemon and pine nut sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until a drop of water sizzles when flicked across the surface. Add the pine nuts and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the preserved lemon and 1 cup mint and cook, stirring, for another 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Allow it to cook down and reduce for another minute. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, reduce the heat to low and toss the pasta to coat it evenly in the mixture. Add more pasta water if it needs a bit more sauce. Add about 20 turns of black pepper and top with the feta, a few pinches of crushed red pepper and the remaining 1 cup mint. Serve immediately and enjoy.

SPINACH-FETA PENNE WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook penne pasta according to package directions.
• As pasta is cooking, toast pine nuts lightly in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently and keeping a close eye on them to prevent burning.
• Remove pine nuts from heat when lightly browned, after about 1-2 minutes.
• Set aside pine nuts.
• Drain cooked pasta and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or wok.
• Add garlic and saute over medium heat for about 30 seconds, being careful not to let garlic brown.
• Stir in cooked pasta.
• Stir in feta and Parmesan cheese and cook for a 2-3 minutes, until feta cheese just starts to melt and pasta and cheese is thoroughly heated through.
• Stir in spinach and continue to heat until spinach barely starts to wilt.
• Take pasta off heat and stir in the toasted pine nuts.
• Transfer to serving dish and serve.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO, FETA AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Toss 3 cups cubed Italian bread with olive oil. Season with seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spread out in a single layer in a well oiled 9x13 inch baking dish. Broil until toasted, turning to brown evenly. Set croutons aside to cool.
• Spread pine nuts on a baking sheet, place on bottom rack of the oven, and toast under broiler. This should only take a few minutes, so watch carefully to prevent burning. Set aside to cool.
• Soak sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and slice.
• In a large salad bowl, toss mixed greens with green onions. Top with croutons, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and feta.

PINE NUT & FETA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil chosen pasta al dente, drain (stir in some butter or olive oil to keep it loose) and allow pasta to cool.
• Combine all dressing ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse until pine nuts have broken down and all ingredients combine (Important! Add/subtract dressing ingredients too taste!).
• Combine cooled pasta, feta, roasted red peppers and cucumbers in a large mixing bowl.
• Gently stir in dressing.
• Chill for around 30 minutes to give flavors a chance to meld.
• Cheers!

ORZO, PINE NUT, AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until tender, then drain well in a colander.
• Whisk together lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl, then add hot orzo and toss. Cool orzo, then toss with pine nuts, feta, and scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper.

SPINACH, FETA AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the washed spinach with the feta, onion and pine nuts in a bowl.
• Sprinkle with sherry vinegar, then drizzle with the oil, which allows the dressing to coat all the ingredients.
• Serve alongside grilled lamb, chicken or just with some crusty bread.

FETA AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until golden brown
• break, crumble, or cut the feta into small cubes and halve the grapes
• whisk the balsamic into the mustard, add a pinch of sugar, season and gradually whisk in the olive oil
• roughly tear the rocket, add the grapes and feta, and toss in the dressing. Make a heap of the mixture on each serving plate and sprinkle the pine nuts on the top. Serve with warm ciabatta.