Orecchiette With Chickpeas Spinach And Feta Recipes

ORECCHIETTE WITH CHICKPEAS AND FETA

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to package directions (about 12 minutes).
• In a medium-sized pan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-low heat. When the garlic is fragrant add the sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, and salt and turn the heat to medium.
• Once the pasta is ready, transfer it to the pan using a slotted spoon. Stir the pasta together with the chickpeas, add the lemon juice and parsley and stir again to combine.
• Garnish each serving with the feta cheese.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CHICKPEAS SPINACH AND FETA

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of water to a rapid boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt. Add the orecchiette, stirring gently and return to a boil. Cook the pasta, stirring frequently, for about 12 to 15 minutes, testing for doneness during the last two to three minutes. Just before draining, remove 1 cup of pasta water using a heat safe measuring cup. Set it aside.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for just a minute or so, just before the garlic begins to become golden. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper. Add the chickpeas and toss to coat. Cook the chickpeas for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the spinach, and toss until it begins to wilt.
• As soon as the pasta is done, drain it quickly in a colander just until drained. Immediately pour the pasta into the sauté pan and toss to coat. Add a 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Allow the pasta to cook in the sauce for a minute or two.
• Remove from the heat, add the feta cheese, lemon juice and toss. Top with some lemon zest, basil and red pepper flakes, if desired, for serving.
• As the pasta sits, you may want to add more of the pasta water. Keep it on hand for reheating, as well!

ORECCHIETTE WITH CHICKPEAS AND SPINACH

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, heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the bell peppers and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and cook just until wilted.
• Stir in the rosemary and the fowl glaze. Stir in the chickpeas. Cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to taste. Place the orecchiette in a large bowl. Add the spinach-and-chickpea mixture and toss to combine well. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Divide the orecchiette among 4 pasta bowls and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Soak chickpeas in water to cover by 2 inches overnight (8 hours) or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below), then drain.
• Simmer chickpeas with whole garlic cloves and bay leaf in water to cover by 2 inches in a 4- to 5-quart pot, partially covered with lid, adding more water if necessary, until tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Drain chickpeas and discard garlic and bay leaf.
• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook onion, celery, carrots, chopped garlic, red-pepper flakes (to taste), and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 12 minutes. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, water, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender and sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and sea salt to taste.
• Make orecchiette:
• Stir together water and sea salt in a bowl until salt has dissolved. Add semolina in a stream, beating with an electric mixer at medium speed until a stiff dough forms, about 2 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead with lightly floured hands (use all-purpose flour) until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Divide dough into 5 pieces and let stand under an overturned bowl 30 minutes.
• Line each of 2 trays (or a work surface) with a dry kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and dust with some semolina. Keeping remaining dough covered, roll 1 piece of dough into a 14-inch-long rope (about 3/4 inch thick) on an unfloured surface. Cut rope into 1/4-inch pieces. Dust your thumb with some flour and press down on each piece of dough, pushing away from you and twisting your thumb slightly to form an indented curled shape (like an ear). Transfer as formed to lined trays. Make more orecchiette with remaining dough. Let stand until dry, about 30 minutes.
• Cook orecchiette:
• Cook orecchiette in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente, then drain and toss with sauce.

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.

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.

CHICKPEAS WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring for one to two minutes, until fragrant and the tomato paste has turned a darker color. Add the chickpeas, the stock or water, and the cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until each addition of spinach wilts. Add salt to taste and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for five minutes. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt and cayenne, and serve.

WARM CHICKPEA, CHILLI & FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together 1 tsp olive oil, the lemon juice, smoked paprika and a little seasoning to make a dressing. Divide the spinach between 2 serving bowls.
• Heat the remaining 2 tsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. Stir-fry the pepper for 5 mins over a high heat until starting to caramelise at the edges. Add the chilli, spring onions and tomatoes and stir-fry for 1 min. Tip in the chickpeas and cook for a further min, then stir in the dressing.
• Spoon the hot chickpea mixture over the spinach leaves, then top with the crumbled feta.