Pastafresca Recipes

NOODLES & CO. PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Sauté Instructions:
• In a very hot sauté pan, add: extra virgin olive oil, pre-cooked farfalle (bow-tie pasta), roma tomatoes, diced red onions, kosher salt & cracked pepper.
• Sear noodles, stirring occasionally until steaming hot.
• Add: baby fresh spinach, 1 oz. fresca sauce.
• Toss to combine, serve with freshly shaved parmesan cheese.
• FRESCA SAUCE: (for 15 servings) 1/4 cup fresh garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup sweet white wine, 1 cup extra virgin olive oil.

PASTA PUTTANESCA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add oil, garlic, anchovies, and crushed pepper. Saute mixture until anchovies melt into oil and completely dissolve and garlic is tender, about 3 minutes: your kitchen never smelled so good! Add olives, capers, tomatoes, black pepper, and parsley. Bring sauce to a bubble, reduce heat, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes.
• Toss sauce with cooked pasta. Pass bread and cheese at the table and serve with Bitter Greens Salad.
• Combine greens in a salad bowl. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the bowl. Drizzle salad liberally with extra virgin olive oil. Toss salad and season salad with salt and pepper. Arrange salad on plates. Garnish plates with black olives, if using.

CAJUN PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• While the pasta water is boiling, in a large skillet over medium heat, briefly saute garlic in oil. Stir in tomatoes and their juice and sprinkle with salt. When tomatoes are bubbly, mash slightly with a fork. Stir in parsley, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes more.
• Toss hot pasta with tomato sauce, Cajun seasoning, mozzarella and Parmesan.

PASTA FROLLA

Steps:

• Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor just until combined. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, 6 to 8 times.
• Whisk together egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon zest. With processor running, add egg mixture; process just until dough begins to come together. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface; lightly knead to form a ball.
• Divide dough into 2 pieces, and gently press into flat disks. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on the boil for the pasta.
• Put aside 1 cup of the tomatoes and a couple of basil leaves.
• Puree the rest of the tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil in a blender until smooth.
• Season.
• When the pasta water is boiling, stir in the pasta and cook until al dente[approx 10 minutes].
• In the meantime cut the reserved basil into thin strips.
• Drain the cooked pasta and toss it immediately with the mozzarella.
• Add the sauce and mix well.
• Top with the reserved tomatoes and basil.
• Serve immediately.

PASTA FROLLA (ITALIAN PASTRY DOUGH)

Steps:

• Put the flour in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center. Add eggs, 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and lemon zest. Mix by hand, working in circles, pulling in the flour little-by-little until all the ingredients are incorporated into a dough.
• Add 1 stick plus 5 tablespoons cubed cold butter and baking powder. Quickly work the dough with your hands until a smooth ball is formed.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before rolling out.