Rusticmediterraneanpastawithtomatoes Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
• While the water boils and pasta cooks, prep your vegetables and remaining ingredients: mince the garlic; halve the cherry tomatoes; drain and roughly chop the artichokes; drain and slice the olives in half. Once the vegetables start cooking, the recipe goes quickly, so you want to be ready.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the tomatoes begin to break down and release some juices into the oil, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Add the artichokes and olives. Drizzle the lemon juice over the pasta. Continue tossing and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until warmed through. If the pasta seems too dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as desired. Remove from heat and sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley. Toss once more and enjoy.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl or cup, combine olive oil and chopped garlic. Set aside.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain.
• Transfer pasta to a medium mixing bowl, and add roasted red peppers, olives, and feta cheese. Toss with olive oil mixture and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

PASTITSIO

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the ground beef, and cook until crumbly and no longer pink. Pour in the water and tomato paste. Season with salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon; cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, adjust salt to taste, then refrigerate until cold. Once cold, remove any congealed fat, and thoroughly mix with 2 beaten eggs, and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse under cold water to cool. Mix the macaroni in 2 beaten eggs until well coated.
• Evenly spread half of the macaroni mixture into a 11x14x2 inch baking pan, sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the grated parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter. Spread the meat mixture overtop, then finish with the remaining macaroni. Sprinkle the macaroni with another 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter.
• Whisk together 4 beaten eggs with the half-and-half, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, flour, and salt; whisk until well blended. Pour the cream mixture evenly over top of the pastitsio, and sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Cover the pan with foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the top has turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA IN MINUTES

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta in a pasta pot, fitted with a strainer. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown chicken strips until no longer pink -- about 3 minutes each side. Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic to skillet. Saute for 2 minutes. In the meantime, add the fresh pasta to boiling water, cook until al dente, about 5 minutes.
• Now add the basil, artichoke hearts, olives and feta cheese to the skillet. Saute 1 minute then stir in the cream. Strain the pasta and transfer to a large pasta bowl. Add the chicken saute to the pasta and toss. Season with oregano, salt and pepper before serving.

15-MINUTE MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook it according to package directions.
• While the spaghetti is boiling, add the garlic and olive oil to a small pan. Heat the oil over medium-low heat and let the garlic gently cook in the oil, for about ten minutes. Adjust the heat, if needed, so the garlic doesn't brown too quickly. After ten minutes discard the garlic and turn off the heat.
• Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it and return it to the pot. Add everything, except the feta cheese, to the pot with the spaghetti and toss it all to combine. Add 3/4 of the feta, reserve some for serving, and give it one more gentle toss. Serve right away with the extra feta on the side.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Peel shrimp and devein; keep chilled until needed.
• Chop sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces; place in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water; allow to rest until softened, 15-30 minutes.
• Cook pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes, or according to package directions; start to prepare vegetables and shrimp just as pasta cooks.
• Drain softened sun-dried tomatoes from water and reserve the soaking liquid (you may need this later).
• In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat, and add garlic, pepper flakes (if using), and oregano, just until fragrant.
• Add the artichokes, sliced red peppers, chopped olives, and softened tomatoes; season with salt and pepper.
• Add the wine, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 mintes.
• Check your pasta, taste it to see if it is al dente; drain when ready, and toss with a little extra virgin olive oil if desired.
• Add the shrimp and the feta to the pan, and cook over moderate heat until the shrimp curl and turn pink, several minutes.
• Sprinkle the dish with parsley and add the juice of the lemon, being careful not to add the seeds.
• Fold in the cooked pasta, tossing to mix, until everything is evenly blended.
• Add some of the reserved cooking liquid from the sun-dried tomatoes if the pasta seems too dry, use your own judgement as to how much you like to add.
• Serve hot, with other foods if desired.