Simple Springtime Pasta Recipes

SPRING PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, CHILES AND SPRING PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Prepare an ice bath. Blanch the peas in the boiling water until bright green, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to the ice bath. Once cool, drain completely.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt until it tastes of lightly salted broth. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, in a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallot and pepperoncini and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the maitake and oyster mushrooms and cook until softened, another 3 to 4 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.
• When the pasta is cooked to al dente, add the pasta to the pan with the mushrooms directly from the pot, reserving the pasta water. Allow the pasta to finish cooking in the mushroom sauce, about 1 minute. Add the peas, butter and Fresno chile and stir to coat. Turn off the heat and add the Pecorino Romano in handfuls, stirring in between additions to prevent lumps. Add pasta water to thin the sauce as desired. Finish with the basil and a drizzle of olive oil.

PASTA WITH SPRING HERBS

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to packagedirections. Drain pasta, then toss with mixed herbs, oil, lemon zest and juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, the pepper, and 1/4 cup Parmesan in a large serving bowl. Serve with remaining 1/4 cup cheese on the side.

SIMPLE SPRINGTIME PASTA

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. 2. While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic scallions, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in the asparagus, cover, and cook 2 minutes more. Add the water, quickly cover, and steam for 2-3 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender. Remove from the heat, add the salt and pepper, and stir the ingredients to combine. 3. Reserving about 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta and transfer to a warmed bowl. Add the asparagus mixture and toss. If the mixture appears dry, add the cooking water 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. 4. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired, and serve immediately

SIMPLE SPRINGTIME PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Tip in the pasta, cook for 3-4 mins. Add the frozen peas and broad beans, then cook for 1 min more to heat through. Drain well, then toss through the olive oil and lemon zest. Place on plates, dollop over the ricotta

QUICK SPRINGTIME PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Tip in the garlic and cook for 1 min until lightly coloured. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, then stir in the basil. Bring up to the boil, then turn down the heat and leave to gently simmer for 10 mins. Meanwhile, boil the spaghetti according to pack instructions.
• Drain the spaghetti, reserving a little of the cooking water separately, then return to the pan. Add the artichokes to the tomato sauce until heated through, then pour it over the spaghetti. Stir in a little parmesan, most of the chopped parsley and a splash of the cooking water if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately with the remaining parmesan and parsley sprinkled over.