Ricotta Walnut Sauce For Pasta Lighter Version Recipes

PASTA WITH WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Put a large saucepan of water on to boil, and toast the walnuts in a dry frying pan until they begin to make a nutty aroma. Put the bread in a bowl and cover with the milk. Put most of the toasted walnuts (reserving about 1 ounce for garnish) into a blender along with the garlic, bread soaked in milk, and Parmesan. Blend until it turns smooth and creamy, then pour in the oil and season well with salt and pepper before blending again.
• Pour into a bowl, and set aside.
• Add pasta to boiling water with salt and cook for the required amount of time. When pasta is al dente, reserve a cup of the pasta cooking liquid and then drain the pasta, but put it in to a large bowl while it's still dripping slightly with water. Sprinkle a little olive oil over the pasta to prevent it sticking together, and then add the walnut sauce, mixing it into the pasta (splash in a little pasta cooking liquid to make the sauce less thick if needed).
• Roughly chop the remaining walnuts and toss them over the top along with some more Parmesan and the chopped parsley.

PASTA WITH RICOTTA-WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• GARNISH: cherry tomatoes or broccoli florets, more grated Parmesan cheese, and sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper, optional.
• Boil a large pot of water; cook pasta until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, in bowl of food processor, place ricotta, yogurt, margarine, garlic, walnuts, and chhese; process till smooth.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• When pasta is done, drain well.
• Toss with sauce.
• Top with garnishes and serve immediately.
• VARIATIONS: - when sauce is tossed with pasta, add steamed vegetables such

RICOTTA-WALNUT SAUCE FOR PASTA (LIGHTER VERSION)

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients, except the Parmesan cheese, parsley and basil, into a food processor; process until the mixture is a slightly chunky puree.
• Transfer to a small saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until warm (Do not let sauce come to a boil).
• toss with hot, freshly cooked pasta in a large pot over low heat.
• Remove from the heat, toss in the Parmesan cheese, parsley and basil.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve immediately.

RICOTTA SAUCE FOR SHORT PASTA

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, mascarpone and milk. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the egg yolk, walnuts and chives. This sauce may be spread on canapés or tossed with short pasta like penne ( pound) and a little of the pasta cooking water.

CREAMY RICOTTA PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook orecchiette according to package directions, reducing time by 1 minute, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Mix until a paste forms. Add 1/3 cup hot pasta water and whisk well. Repeat with another 1/3 cup pasta water.
• Transfer pasta to a saucepan using a strainer, letting most, but not all, the water drain off. Reserve cooking water. Add the sauce mixture and turn heat to medium. Cook and stir until sauce thickens enough to coat the pasta evenly, about 2 minutes. Add more pasta water if sauce gets too thick. Stir in pesto. Taste and season as desired. Transfer pasta to a warm bowl.