Mascarpone Pesto Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH PESTO & MASCARPONE

Steps:

• On low heat, add about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to a pan and cook garlic until translucent. Pour into bowl of food processor or mini blender.
• Add everything but the basil leaves and salt to the bowl of a food processor and blitz until smooth.
• Add the basil leaves and blend again. Taste, add salt as necessary and mix again, taste and adjust more if needed. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, 4 quarts or 2 litres per pound. You want plenty of water - pasta needs to move around or it will become mushy. If you do not have a large pot, use two small ones.
• Add a generous amount of salt (about 1/4 cup) - or a general rule is one heaping tablespoon for each cup of water. The water should be "slightly less salty than the sea."
• Add the preferred pasta shape to the water. Set a timer for 5 minutes and then taste every 30 seconds until properly cooked. You want the pasta l dente (slightly chewy and less resistant to the bite).
• Before removing pasta, take a mug full of the pasta water to use later in the sauce. The starch from the water helps bind the sauce to the pasta.
• Remove immediately and drain.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, place the pesto and gently heat. Add the mascarpone and few tablespoons of the pasta water, mix together well.
• Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss well, coating all pieces and adding more of the starchy water if necessary.
• Scoop pasta into a large serving bowl or individual bowls, sprinkle with some extra cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
• Garnish with halved cherry tomatoes that have been tossed with a little salt and olive oil.

PESTO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the pasta for 10 mins in salted boiling water until al dente, drain, then tip into a bowl. Stir in the crème fraîche followed by the pesto, then leave to cool.
• When the pasta is cool, stir in the cucumber, tomatoes and peas followed by the basil leaves. Season if it needs it, and tip into a container to transport it.

MASCARPONE CHEESE & PESTO PASTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package; reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain well. In a large bowl, combine pot pasta, macarpone cheese and reserved cooking water; toss well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve pasta immediately in bowls accompanied with a dollop of pesto. Pesto: In a food procesor or blender, blend basil, nuts, garlic and cheese. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper.

MASCARPONE PASTA WITH CHICKEN, BACON AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels. Crumble bacon when cooled.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir crumbled bacon and onion in the hot oil until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir chicken into mixture and season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook and stir until chicken is no longer pink inside and lightly browned outside, about 10 minutes.
• Stir sun-dried tomatoes and pesto in a large skillet over medium heat until pesto gives off a little oil, about 2 minutes; stir in spinach and cook until wilted, stirring constantly.
• Mix mascarpone cheese, 2 cloves of garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, milk, and white pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until smooth and bubbling, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes; stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese until cheese has melted, 2 to 3 more minutes. Pour sauce over chicken and bacon mixture.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. Gently fold pasta into chicken mixture and transfer to a serving bowl. Top with spinach mixture and sprinkle with 1 more tablespoon Parmesan cheese, or to taste.