Uncle Bills Asparagus Pasta Primavera Recipes

THE "PERFECT" PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Stem or blanch the various vegetables (broccoli,asparagus,peas,zucchiniø- or squash,and corn) as indicated, combine them and keep them warm.
• In a skillet, saute the garlic in the oil for 1 minute,but do not brown.
• Add the tomatoes,mushrooms,carrot,parsle and pepper,and cook the mixture for about 5 minutes.
• Add this to the reserved vegetables, tossing ingredients gently to combine them well.
• To prepare the sauce, in a small heavy saucepan, melt the butter or margarine,and add flour,whisking the roux over med.
• -lowheat for 1 minute- gradually add the milk and broth,stirring constantly till the sauce thickens slightly.
• Stir in the Parmesan and basil,and heat the sauce over med.
• -lowflame,stirring until cheese is melted.
• Pour the sauce over the veggie mixture and toss gently to coat.
• Cook the spaghetti or linguine al dente,drain and keep warm.
• Place the cooked pasta in a large warmed bowl and spread the veggie and sauce mixture over the pasta, toss the the pasta gently,once or twice, and serve with additional Parmesan, if desired.

SPRING PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package; drain.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add asparagus, pepper, carrots, garlic, and herb seasoning to oil; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until tender-crisp.
• Remove from heat; stir in pasta and cheese.
• Serve hot.

PASTA PRIMAVERA FOR TWO

Steps:

• Bring large saucepan of salted water to a boil; add fettuccine; stir.
• Cook 5 minutes; add carrots and asparagus.
• Return to a boil; cook 3 minutes.
• Add snow peas and cook an additional minute; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat Alfredo sauce according to package directions.
• Toss drained pasta and vegetables with sauce; serve with shredded parmesan.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Have the asparagus, carrots, zucchini, and yellow squash cut up and ready. Set these vegetables aside. Bring the chicken broth and water just to a simmer in a medium saucepan; keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup minced onion and the minced garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add asparagus and carrots; cook 2 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook until just tender, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Heat 2 more tablespoons olive oil in same sauce pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup more minced onion and cook 3 minutes. Add the arborio rice (or short-grain rice), stirring to coat. Stir in the dry white wine and cook until almost absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup reserved broth and cook, stirring constantly, until almost absorbed. Simmer, adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until broth is absorbed before adding more, about 20 minutes. Rice will be creamy and just tender.
• Stir in 2 more tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, chopped mint, grated lemon peel, peas, and reserved vegetables.
• Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Snap of tough ends of the asparagus. Cut spears diagonally into 1-inch lengths, leaving tips whole.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain well.
• Meanwhile, in a large frying pan over medium high heat, melt butter.
• Add mushrooms, prosciutto, asparagus, carrot and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Cover pan and cook for 1 more minute.
• To the vegetable mix, add green onions, peas, basil, salt, nutmeg, white pepper and cream. Increase heat to high and cook until liquid boils and forms large, shiny bubbles.
• Return drained pasta to pan it was cooked in and pour sauce over pasta; lift and mix gently so pasta is coated with sauce thoroughly. Add the 1/4 cup Parmesan and mix gently again.
• Turn into a warm bowl or large, deep platter and serve at once, garnished with parsley and additional Parmesan.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a stock pot.
• Add asparagus; cook 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Add pasta to boiling water; cook according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.
• Cut the chicken crosswise into 1/4 inch wide strips.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken; saute 5 minutes.
• Add asparagus, peas, salt, pepper, and garlic; saute 2 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Stir in cream and juice; cook 1 minute.
• Add pasta and cheese; stir well to coat.
• Remove from heat; stir in basil, green onions, and parsley.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In large pot, bring water to a boil. Pour in pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil and add the vegetables. Cook through.
• Once pasta is cooked, drain, and then add the butter and parmesan cheese. Stir together. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Add pasta to the veggies in skillet. Mix. Serve with extra parmesan cheese on top. Yummy!

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH SMOKY HAM

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water 7 minutes.
• Add asparagus and cook 3 minutes.
• Add bell pepper.
• Boil until pasta and asparagus are just tender but still firm to bite and bell pepper strips are slightly softened, about 30 seconds longer.
• Drain well.
• Meanwhile, stir ham in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add cream.
• chicken broth and mustard and boil sauce 2 minutes, stirring up and browned bits.
• Add pasta mixture to skillet.
• Toss until sauce coats pasta mixture, about 2 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

ANGEL HAIR PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Heat a large pot of water over a medium heat until water boils.
• Place vegetables in steamer and steam until cooked al dente.
• While vegetables are steaming, cook pasta as per instructions from manufacturer.
• Place a large saute pan over a medium heat. Once pan is hot add olive oil and garlic. Gently saute garlic. A.
• dd a good quality chicken stock to the pan and bring to the boil.
• Strain pasta and vegetables and add to saute pan.
• Add fresh basil, lemon zest, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and parsley. Toss pasta thoroughly.

CLASSIC PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of water to boil in large pot for pasta.
• Bring 3 quarts water to boil in a large saucepan for veggies with salt.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside.
• Add green beans to water and cook for 1.5 minutes.
• Add asparagus and cook 30 seconds.
• Add zucchini and cook 30 seconds.
• Add peas and cook 30 seconds.
• Drain veggies and plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Let them sit until chilled, about 3 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• Melt 3 tbs butter in the now empty saucepan over medium heat.
• Add mushrooms and cook until soft and lightly brown, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and pepper flakes, cook until tomatoes begin to loose their shape, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Cover and keep warm.
• Add pasta and 1 tbs kosher salt to pot and cook, stirring often, until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, melt remaining 3 tbs butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add blanched veggies and cook until heated through and infused with garlic, about 2 minutes.
• Season to taste.
• Bring tomatoe sauce back to a simmer over medium heat.
• Drain pasta and return it to the pot.
• Add tomato sauce, veggies, basil and lemon juice. Toss to combine.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately passing Parmesan separately.

WHOLE WHEAT PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a large bowl, toss all the vegetables (minus the cherry tomatoes) with the olive oil, salt, pepper, italian spices, garlic powder and crushed red pepper, if using.
• Arrange the vegetables on 2 large baking sheets, making sure they are in an even layer.
• Bake until carrots are tender, and remaining vegetables begin to brown slightly, and carmelize.
• It is a good idea to lightly toss the vegetables after about 10 minutes of cooking.
• Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water.
• Drain pasta and reserve about 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta and vegetables in a large bowl.
• Add the cherry tomatoes and any of the reserved cooking liquid is pasta seems dry.
• Season again with salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese of your choice and fresh basil leaves.