Orecchiette With Beans And Mussels Recipes

ORECCHIETTE WITH FRESH AND DRIED BEANS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• To cook dried beans, transfer with their soaking water to a heavy pot. Add more water as necessary to cover the beans with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water. Over medium-high heat, bring to a gentle boil and skim away foam. Add onion and garlic, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes. Add salt to taste (I use at least a rounded teaspoon), cover and continue to simmer very gently for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the beans are tender all the way through and their texture is plush and velvety. Taste the bean broth and add more salt as necessary. Remove from heat. Let beans cool in the broth if not using right away.
• Place a strainer over a bowl and drain beans. Measure out 1 cup of the broth and combine with the tomato sauce or tomatoes in a wide pan or a pasta bowl.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add orecchiette. Boil 5 minutes and add green beans. Boil another 5 minutes, until pasta is cooked al dente. Drain and toss green beans and pasta with the cooked beans and tomato sauce or tomatoes. Add half the basil and toss again.
• Serve in wide bowls, garnishing each serving with fresh basil and Parmesan.

MUSSELS WITH ORECCHIETTE AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain. Meanwhile, steam the mussels. When cool enough to handle, remove the mussels from the shells.
• Place the orecchiette in a large bowl. Add the mussels, beans, olive oil, salt, pepper and parsley. Toss to combine well. Divide among 4 pasta bowls and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE 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 mascarpone cheese and slowly add the pasta cooking liquid until a smooth sauce forms, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

ORECCHIETTE WITH MUSSELS AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for pasta. Once it is boiling, plop the orecchiette into the pasta water, and cook until al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. When the oil is hot, add the crushed garlic. Let the garlic sizzle a minute, then add the mussels. Cover, and cook until the mussels open, about 5 minutes, then scoop the mussels up with a spider and put them in a bowl to cool slightly. Reserve any leftover liquid.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in another large skillet. Add the sliced garlic, and cook until sizzling and fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Toss in the broccoli rabe and peperoncino, and strain the reserved mussel cooking liquid into the skillet. Cover, and cook until the broccoli rabe is tender, about 10 minutes. If there is too much liquid left in the skillet and it looks soupy, uncover and bring to a rapid boil to reduce and thicken the sauce.
• Pluck the mussels from their shells, and put the meat in a small bowl. (No need to save the shells.) When the pasta is ready, use a spider to transfer it directly into the skillet with the broccoli rabe. Return the mussels to the skillet, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and toss to coat the pasta with the sauce. Remove from heat, toss with the grated cheese, and serve.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CANNELLINI BEANS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Stir in onion, carrot, and garlic; saute 3 minutes.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and next 4 ingredients (everything except spinach and bread crumbs); simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in spinach, and cook 1 minute or until spinach is wilted.
• Stir in pasta; cook until thoroughly heated.
• Sprinkle pasta with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese and breadcrumbs before serving.