Tinypastainbroth Recipes

TINY TOMATO TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured work surface, unfold the puff pastry and roll lightly to flatten. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out pastry circles and place, evenly spaced, on the parchment.
• Using a fork, generously prick (dock) the pastry circles to the edges.
• Spread 1 teaspoon of the pesto on each circle, almost to the edge. Place a slice of tomato on top, and drizzle a tiny drop of olive oil over.
• Bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

PASTA IN BROTH

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in food processor, and pulse once or twice. Add eggs and oil, and turn machine on. Process until a ball begins to form, about 30 seconds. Add a few drops of water if dough is dry and grainy; add a little flour if dough sticks to side of bowl. You want a not-too-sticky, quite firm dough; knead by hand with a little flour if necessary to achieve that. (You can wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for up to a day at this point.)
• When you are ready to cook, bring stock to a slow boil in a large pot. Using more flour as needed, flatten or roll dough out quickly to less than 1/4 inch, then cut it into strips or shapes with a knife; add to stock. Alternatively, pinch small pieces of dough directly into simmering stock.
• Cook until pasta is tender but firm, 3 or 4 minutes. Season broth with nutmeg and serve, passing Parmesan at table.

BROTHY PASTA WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat 3 Tbsp. oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion and garlic are very tender and just beginning to brown around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add rosemary and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chickpeas and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are slightly thickened, 6-8 minutes.
• Add pasta and 4 cups water to saucepan. Increase heat to medium-high, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking, until pasta is al dente, 13-16 minutes, depending on shape. Stir in parsley and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan; season with salt. Pluck out and discard rosemary sprig.
• Ladle pasta and broth into bowls. Drizzle with more oil, season with lots of black pepper, and top with more Parmesan.

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, but don't shake it fully dry.
• In a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold the pasta (and preferably with a light-colored bottom so you can see the butter solids brown), melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden-brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it does not burn. If it does, start over.) Remove from heat immediately.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the brown butter. Stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the pasta is glossy with sauce (you probably won't need the full 1/2 cup).
• Serve with black pepper and more Parmesan on top.

CREAMY PASTA BAKE WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent while penne is cooking, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce and tomato paste and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add cream and Parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and sugar.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
• Stir some pasta cooking water into the sauce and add cooked penne. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and basil. Pour penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

TINY PASTA IN BROTH

Steps:

• Bring the beef stock to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Add salt and pepper to taste, then drop in the soup pasta.
• Stir well and bring the stock back to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook 7 to 8 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until the pasta is al dente.
• Stir often during cooking to prevent the pasta shapes from sticking together.
• Drain the pieces of bottled roasted pepper and dice them finely; add to the soup pot.
• Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning.
• Ladle into individual soup bowls and serve immediately, with grated Parmesan cheese for topping.