Classic Spaghetti Primavera Recipes

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

CLASSIC PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Blanch the broccoli, asparagus, snow peas: Get a large pot of water boiling. Salt it well. It should taste like the sea. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Boil the broccoli for 1 minute. Add the asparagus and boil another minute. Add the snow peas and boil for 30 more seconds. Remove all the vegetables and plunge them into the ice water. Once they're cool, drain in a colander. If you want, you can boil your pasta in the same pot you boiled the vegetables in, or you can start over and boil new water; I use the same water.
• Sauté the zucchini and garlic, then add the tomatoes: In a large sauté pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. When the butter is hot, add the garlic and zucchini and sauté 1 minute. Add the diced tomatoes and sauté another 2 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the stock, cream, blanched vegetables, and peas: Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock and turn the heat to high to bring it to a boil. Add the cream and toss in all the vegetables you boiled, plus the peas. Stir to combine. Turn the heat down until the cream-chicken broth mixture is just simmering, not boiling.
• Add the Parmesan: Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine. If the sauce seems too thick-it should be pretty thick, but not gloppy-add some more chicken broth, cream or water.
• Boil the pasta: If you are using spaghetti, you will want to start cooking it before you begin sautéing the garlic and zucchini. Angel hair will only need 1 to 2 minutes to cook, vermicelli or spaghetti can take 8 to 12 minutes.
• Toss the pasta and serve: As soon as the pasta is done, transfer it with tongs into the sauce and stir to combine. Add the basil now, and taste for salt. Add salt if needed. Grind some black pepper over everything and serve immediately. You will want a dry white wine with this, ideally a dry French white.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Cook fettuccine as directed on package.
• While fettuccine is cooking, heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook broccoli, cauliflowerets, carrots, peas and onion in oil 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Stir in Alfredo sauce; heat through. Drain fettuccine. Stir fettuccine into sauce mixture; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

PENNE PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. When garlic is tender, remove from skillet and set aside. Place the broccoli and carrot in the skillet, and cook 2 minutes, just until heated through.
• In a pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Stir in the penne pasta and heated crushed garlic clove. Cook for 5 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente. Remove and discard garlic clove.
• Transfer the partially cooked pasta and broth to the skillet. Mix in the peas. Cover skillet, and continue cooking 10 minutes over medium heat, or until pasta is al dente and vegetables are tender. Toss with the Parmesan cheese to serve.

SPAGHETTI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a boil. Let simmer until ready to cook the pasta.
• In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan, bring a quart of water with 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add the fresh peas and cook for 3 minutes. Drain, cool the peas under cold running water and drain again. Set the peas aside.
• In the same saucepan, combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, butter, Parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook slowly over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large skillet, place 2 tablespoons olive oil and toast the pine nuts over high heat until light brown. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, green beans, asparagus and jalapeno pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the peas and set aside.
• Warm the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and basil and cook slowly for 2 minutes. Do not allow the garlic to color. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and cook another 3 to 4 minutes. Mix with the sauteed vegetables.
• Just before serving, add a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water, plunge the spaghetti into the water, stir and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until al dente. Drain and return the spaghetti to the pot. Add the reserved Parmesan cream sauce, the chives and half of the sauteed vegetable mixture. Toss well for two minutes and add a little additional Parmesan cheese if the sauce needs thickening.
• Pour the spaghetti mixture into a warm bowl. Sprinkle the remaining vegetables over it. Decorate with basil leaves and serve grated Parmesan cheese on the side.

TOASTED SPAGHETTI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Reduce heat to low, add pea shells and steep for 90 minutes. Strain and cool. Discard shells and reserve 2 cups of broth.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Drop the peas into the boiling water and cook until just soft, about 2 minutes (30 seconds if frozen). Using a strainer, transfer the peas to the ice water, then remove and roughly chop.
• Return water to a boil. Boil the Romanesco and sugar snaps for 30 seconds; transfer to ice water with a slotted spoon. Boil carrots for 1 to 3 minutes and transfer them to the ice water. Save boiling water for the pasta, adding more water and salt as needed. Carefully separate the sugar snaps in half along their seams so that half of the peas remain hinged on each half of the shell.
• Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, slice asparagus and radishes lengthwise. Spread on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil. Season with salt.
• In a large saucepan set over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the garlic, green garlic, capers, pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt. Sauté until fragrant but before the garlic browns, 30 to 60 seconds. Add the pea broth and the miso paste and bring to a boil. Add the peas, sugar snaps, carrots and Romanesco. Season to taste with salt, miso, lemon zest and lemon juice. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
• About 20 minutes before serving, break the pasta into 2-inch pieces and place on a baking sheet. Coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toast in the oven until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Immediately transfer to the boiling salted water and cook until al dente. Transfer to the miso broth. Set over medium heat and stir until well combined and hot.
• Portion the pasta and broth into 4 bowls. Top each with a few slices of asparagus and radish, a sprinkle of parsley and, if you choose, miner's lettuce or edible pansies. Drizzle with olive oil.

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.