Fusilli With Carrots Peas Mint Recipes

PASTA, PESTO, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.
• Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
• Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.
• To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

CREAMY FUSILLI WITH CARROTS, PEAS AND BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and crunchy, 5 to 7 minutes. Set the toasted breadcrumbs aside in a small bowl.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the peas and chicken stock to the skillet and simmer until the stock is hot, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the carrots and continue to simmer until the carrots are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper. (This is a good time to boil your pasta.) Simmer until the reduces by one-fourth, about 5 minutes. Set the sauce aside; cover and keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and toss with the sauce, about half of the breadcrumbs and all of the mint.
• Divide the pasta into bowls and top with a sprinkle of the remaining breadcrumbs and some Parmigiano-Reggiano.

FUSILLI WITH CARROTS, PEAS, AND MINT

Steps:

• In a skillet cook the bread crumbs in 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until they are golden and crisp and transfer them to a small bowl. In the skillet cook the shallot in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the peas and the broth, and simmer the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in the carrots, simmer the mixture, for 2 minutes, or until the carrots are just tender, and stir in the cream and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the mixture until the liquid is reduced by about one fourth, remove the sauce from the heat, and keep it warm. In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the fusilli until it is al dente, drain it well, and in a bowl toss it with the sauce, half of the bread crumbs, and the mint. Divide the fusilli between 2 soup bowls and top it with the remaining bread crumbs.

FUSILLI WITH CARROTS, PEAS & MINT

Steps:

• In a skillet cook the bread crumbs in 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until they are golden and crisp and transfer them to a small bowl.
• In the skillet cook the shallot in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened.
• Add the peas and the broth, and simmer the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots, simmer the mixture, for 2 minutes, or until the carrots are just tender, and stir in the cream and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer the mixture until the liquid is reduced by about one fourth, remove the sauce from the heat, and keep it warm.
• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the fusilli until it is al dente, drain it well, and in a bowl toss it with the sauce, half of the bread crumbs, and the mint.
• Divide the fusilli between 2 soup bowls and top it with the remaining bread crumbs.