Mascarpone Roasted Red Pepper Spinach Orechiette Pasta Recipes

CREAMY SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
• Transfer pasta to a large bowl; add garlic, shallot, mascarpone, spinach, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Stir until cheese has melted and mixture is combined, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add additional cooking liquid as needed to loosen sauce. Divide pasta among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with lemon zest and, if desired, crushed red pepper. Serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE AND ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Place peppers, skin side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil 4 inches from heat until charred, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; steam 2 to 3 minutes. Using a paper towel, rub off pepper skins, reserving any juices in bowl. Thinly slice peppers crosswise into 1/4-inch strips; return to bowl. Set aside.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Add roasted peppers; cook until heated through.
• Transfer sausage mixture to bowl; add pasta, butter, reserved pasta water, and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SPINACH, ROASTED RED PEPPER AND FETA

Steps:

• Place orecchiette in plenty of salted, boiling water and cook according to package directions (approximately 9 minutes) until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat in a saute pan and add minced garlic. Allow to cook for only about a minute (to soften). Add chopped spinach and season with salt and pepper (not too much salt, as feta will add saltiness).
• Add roasted red pepper and cook over low heat until spinach and peppers are heated through. Keep warm over a low heat until pasta is ready.
• When pasta is done cooking, add feta to the spinach mixture. Using a spider, take orecchiette from boiling water (reserving water) and add to spinach mixture on top of the feta. Toss pasta with mixture until thoroughly combined, then add pasta water (about 1/2 cup) until mixture is creamy and moistened.
• Serve immediately.

ORECHIETTE WITH SAUSAGE, BEANS, AND MASCARPONE

Steps:

• 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 pasta reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• In a large, heavy skillet warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onions. Using a wooden spoon break up the sausage into bite-sized pieces as it browns.
• Continue cooking until the sausage is golden and the onions are tender. Add the beans and oregano cook for 2 more minutes. Add the cup of pasta cooking liquid and stir, scrapping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the mascarpone cheese and stir until it dissolved into a light sauce. Add the salt, pepper, and hot pasta. Stir until coated and serve.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SPINACH, GARLIC AND BACON

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions on the box.
• While frying your bacon, defrost spinach in the microwave according to directions.
• Sauté onion in olive oil until tender; add the garlic and sauté two more minutes. Add the spinach to the onions.
• Crumble the bacon and add to the mixture.
• Turn the heat to low to keep spinach mixture warm while the pasta finishes cooking.
• When pasta is cooked, drain and place in shallow bowls, spoon spinach mixture over pasta and serve.
• •Serving Suggestion: Sprinkle grated cheese over top.