Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes (Spring)

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

8 ounces penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes
1 cup shelled fresh peas
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the
pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring
occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about
1/2 cup of the pasta water.

In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the
garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus,
season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly
soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the
chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook
until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half,
about 3 minutes.

Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked
pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water,
if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan
and chopped basil.

From: foodnetwork.com

Baked Orzo with Fontina and Peas

Cook Time: 30 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1 pound orzo pasta
* 3 tablespoons butter, plus more to grease the baking dish
* 1 onion, chopped
* 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
* 1 cup Marsala wine
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 4 ounces shredded fontina cheese (about 1 cup)
* 4 ounces diced fresh mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup)
* 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 cup bread crumbs
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.

Bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium
saucepan. Add the orzo and cook until almost tender, about 7 minutes.
Pour the orzo and the broth into a large bowl. Set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add
the onions and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms
and continue to saute until the mushrooms are beginning to turn golden
around the edges, about 7 minutes. Add the Marsala. Scrape the brown
bits off the bottom of the pan and cook until the Marsala has reduced
by half, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom mixture to the orzo in the
large bowl. Add the cream, fontina, mozzarella, peas, salt, and
pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking
dish.

In a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and dried thyme.
Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on top of the pasta. Bake until
golden, about 25 minutes.

From: foodnetwork.com

Salmon in Lemon Brodetto with Pea Puree

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Lemon Brodetto:

* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 shallot, diced
* 2 lemons, juiced
* 1 lemon, zested
* 2 cups chicken broth
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves

Pea Puree:

* 2 cups frozen peas, thawed (about 10 ounces)
* 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
* 1 clove garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Salmon:

* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 4 (4 to 6-ounce) pieces salmon
* Kosher salt
* Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

To make the Lemon Brodetto, warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan
over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until tender, about 7
minutes. Add the lemon juice, zest, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and
keep warm, covered, over low heat.

From: foodnetwork.com

To make the Pea Puree, combine the peas, mint, garlic, salt, and
pepper in a food processor and puree. With the machine running, add
the olive oil in a steady drizzle. Transfer the pea puree to a small
bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Set aside.

To make the Salmon, warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over
high heat. Season the salmon pieces with salt and pepper. Sear the
salmon until a golden crust forms, about 4 to 5 minutes on the first
side. Flip the fish and continue cooking until medium-rare, about 2
minutes more depending on the thickness of the fish.

To assemble the dish, add the tablespoon chopped mint to the Lemon
Brodetto and divide between 4 shallow dishes. Place a large spoonful
of Pea Puree into the center of each bowl. Place a salmon piece atop
each mound of Pea Puree. Serve immediately.

From: foodnetwork.com

Pasta with Tomato and Peas

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

* 1 pound linguine
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 3 shallots, chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 carrot, diced
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 5 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1 teaspoon dried parsley
* 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
* 1/4 cup grated Romano

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the
pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring
occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 2 cups
of the pasta water.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium
heat. Add the shallots, garlic, carrots, salt, and pepper. Cook until
tender, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1/2 cup of the hot
pasta water. Stir to melt the tomato paste and create a sauce, adding
more pasta water if necessary. Stir in the oregano, thyme, and
parsley. Gently fold in the cooked pasta, peas, and the cheeses,
adding more reserved pasta water if necessary. Transfer to a platter
and serve immediately.

From: foodnetwork.com