Paccheri Pasta Recipes

PACCHERI WITH PORCINI AND PISTACHIO

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the skillet and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, garlic and 3/4 teaspoon salt to the skillet and stir. Cook undisturbed, until the bottom layer of mushrooms is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir and repeat until the mushrooms are evenly browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the shallots and cook, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine and simmer until almost reduced, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and butter and simmer to emulsify and thicken slightly, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Season generously with salt. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions, until not quite al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, spoon the pasta directly from the water into the sauce over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup pasta water to the skillet. Sprinkle the bare pasta with 1 cup of the Parmesan. Toss well to combine and coat in the sauce. Simmer, tossing often, to finish the pasta, about 2 minutes. Stir in the arugula until just wilted and add the remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle with the pistachios. Top with more Parmesan before serving, if desired.

PACCHERI PASTA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a casserole, add minced lamb an fry until golden.
• Add in the chopped onion, mix and cook another 5 minutes.
• Add cherry tomatoes, salt, bay leaf, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Slowly cook down until they start to fall apart, for about 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add tomato passata. Cover and cook 20-25 minutes over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves.
• Serve paccheri pasta with ragu and Parmesan cheese immediately.

PASTA ALLA SORRENTINA

Steps:

• Start a large pot of water boiling for the pasta and salt it well. Once boiling, add the pasta to the pot and cook according to package directions, or until al dente.
• Add the olive oil and garlic to a skillet on the stovetop. Turn the heat on to medium-low and heat the oil and garlic slightly. As soon as the oil is heated and you can see tiny bubbles around the garlic, add the cherry tomatoes and basil to the pan and raise the temperature slightly. Add the red pepper flakes and salt (and a pinch of sugar, if using). Cook, stirring, until the skin on the cherry tomatoes starts to crack open. **Make sure the garlic doesn't brown during this process. If it is starting to colour at all, add a Tbsp or 2 of water to the pan to stop the garlic browning.
• When the tomatoes start cracking, use the back of a large spoon to smash about 1/2 of the cherry tomatoes. Add the butter (if using) and stir to combine.
• When pasta is ready, spoon out of pot with a slotted spoon, allowing the excess water to drain off back into the pot. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the tomatoes. Stir to combine. Add a 1/2 ladle or so of pasta water to the skillet and cook the pasta with the sauce about 2 minutes. Season with some freshly ground pepper.
• Remove skillet from heat and stir in the cubed fresh mozzarella. Stir in and allow the residual heat from the pan to soften the cheese. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan and some fresh, chopped basil. *If using regular mozzarella cheese, you may need to leave it on the heat for a bit to soften the cheese.

PACCHERI PASTA WITH CAULIFLOWER AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large stock pot of water to a boil over medium heat, then add in the salt and the cauliflower. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan, and saute the garlic and red pepper flakes for 1 minute. Remove the cauliflower from water with a large strainer or spider and add it to the pan with the garlic-red pepper mixture. Saute briefly until starting to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the chicken stock, add in the spinach, cover and let wilt for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and capers with juice and reduce the heat. Remove the cover and let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Return the cauliflower water to boil, adding more water, if necessary, to cook the pasta. Add the pasta add cook to al dente. Remove the pasta from the water and add it to the pan with the sauce, adding a little pasta water, if needed. Stir gently to combine, transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with half of the cheese. Garnish with the parsley and drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Serve immediately with remaining cheese on the side.