It's Monday, which means the beginning of the work week (if you've gotten back to work - or never left during the pandemic). Today's post deals with one of my favorite groups, pasta, and includes Pesto Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Angel Hair Pasta, and Baked Ziti. Enjoy!
LINGUINE WITH CRISP CHICKPEAS AND ROSEMARY
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
PASTA SALAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though I suspect it's a diabetic recipe, as it has the nutritional info. Yield: 6 servings (6 cups total)
Ingredients
3 cups cooked tricolor spiral pasta (1-1/2 cups dry), or 3 cups other cooked pasta
1 large ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup black olives, drained and sliced
1/2 cup prepared fat-free Italian or Parmesan-pepper dressing
Directions
Combine all the ingredients; toss to mix. Chill to blend the flavors. (This salad is even better the second day.)
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 165, Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 10 mg, Sodium: 355 mg, Carbohydrate: 22 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 9 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
PESTO PASTA SALAD WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES
This is from Cara Harbstreet on Fruits & Veggies, a website I recently stumbled across. This salad can be served hot or cold, whichever strikes your fancy.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/pesto-pasta-salad-with-sun-dried-tomatoes/.
Ingredients
1 16 oz box cellentani, rotini, or bowtie pasta
1 cup pesto sauce
1 can chickpeas
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 head broccoli florets
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lemon (optional)
Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Wash and dry the broccoli, then cut into small florets. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast 10 minutes on high heat or until the edges begin to brown and the broccoli is cooked to your preference.
While the oven is preheating, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on your pasta shape.
Meanwhile, chop the sun-dried tomatoes and drain and rinse the chickpeas. Set aside until ready to combine.
Once pasta is cooked, drain and add to a large mixing bowl. Remove the broccoli from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Add to the mixing bowl with the pesto sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and chickpeas. If using lemon, squeeze over the top, being careful not to include the seeds. Gently fold together to combine all ingredients.
Top with parmesan cheese just before serving. Serve warm, or chill until ready to serve.
ANGEL HAIR PASTA
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important — unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
Note: This recipes, as well as the next one (Baked Ziti), can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. I'm planning to update this e-cookbook in the near future.
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
BAKED ZITI
Let's face it: we've all had days when we want something hot and yummy, but with a minimum amount of effort. What to fix on these days? Baked Ziti fits the bill. And if you're like me, chances are you have all the makings in your cupboard and fridge.
Here's what it takes:
16 ounce box of ziti
26 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
1 jar-full of water
2 C shredded cheese
Okay, I can hear you asking, "What brand of spaghetti sauce? What type of sauce? And the cheese...Cheddar? Mozzarella? Can it be the stuff already shredded and in a bag or does it have to be a block of cheese that I grate and measure?" Here's the good part: Use what you have, which, chances are, are what you like. It doesn't matter what brand of spaghetti sauce or kind of cheese.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Take a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Dump the dried ziti into the pan. (No, no, do NOT cook the ziti first. Dump the ziti uncooked straight from the box.) Pour the spaghetti sauce into the pan and add one jar-full of water into the pan. Stir to mix. Add most of the shredded cheese, reserving 1/4-1/2 cup of cheese. Stir again to mix. Bake in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes for a total time of 35 minutes.
Serve with a salad and possibly garlic bread and possibly a peanut butter pie for dessert
See? Simple, hot, good and with at minimum amount of energy. What could be better for an after-work dinner?
Note: My younger two and I have called this recipe Talking Pasta for a few years. I can almost hear you thinking Huh? Talking pasta? Years ago, one of the name brands of spaghetti/pasta sauce had one line of sauce that was marketed for baked ziti. Their commercials showed cartoon ziti that talked about how good the sauce was in baked ziti; hence, Talking Pasta. Call it that, or Baked Ziti; either way, it's yummy, quick, and easy! Enjoy!
CACIO E PEPE
This comes from Mark Bittman of The New York Times Cooking email. Mark wrote, “It is among the most basic, simplest pastas there is, and suddenly trendy to boot. Why? Because when made right, it is incredible.” Time: 20 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Salt
1 1/2 cups finely grated pecorino Romano, plus more for dusting completed dish
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, plus more for finishing the dish
3/4 pound tonnarelli or other long pasta like linguine or spaghetti
Good olive oil
Preparation
Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to the bowl, reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.
Plate and dust each dish with additional pecorino and pepper. Serve immediately.
Showing posts with label Linguine With Crisp Chickpeas and Rosemary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Linguine With Crisp Chickpeas and Rosemary. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2020
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Vegan Sweet Potato Chowder, Stuffed Peppers, and Cowboy Caviar. Enjoy!
LINGUINE WITH CRISP CHICKPEAS AND ROSEMARY
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
RED CURRY LENTILS WITH SWEET POTATOES AND SPINACH
This comes from Lidey Heuck at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Lidey wrote, "In this vegetarian main inspired by Indian dal, lentils are cooked with an aromatic blend of Thai spices — fresh ginger, turmeric, red curry paste and chile — then simmered in coconut milk until fall-apart tender. Browning the sweet potatoes before cooking them with the lentils brings out their sweetness, balancing the heat from the chile and curry paste, while baby spinach tossed in just before serving adds fresh flavor. Serve over steamed white or brown rice, or with toasted flatbread on the side."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020766-red-curry-lentils-with-sweet-potatoes-and-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (about 1 tablespoon)
1 red chile, such as Fresno or serrano, halved, seeds and ribs removed, then minced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 (13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 (4- to 5-ounce) bag baby spinach
1/2 lime, juiced
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, for serving (optional)
Preparation
In a Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the browned sweet potatoes to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the curry paste, garlic, ginger, chile and turmeric, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, stock, salt and browned sweet potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the lentils are creamy and falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice and season with salt to taste.
Divide among shallow bowls and top with cilantro and coconut flakes, if using.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
LEMON POUND CAKE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Add a splash of sunshine to any spring brunch or dessert spread with this bright lemon pound cake. Yellow cake mix is combined with cream cheese and grated lemon peel for a pound cake that’s rich in flavor and bursting with refreshing citrus notes. With just six simple ingredients and only 15 minutes of prep time, you can whip up this lemon pound cake recipe when you want to bake something homemade, but don’t have all day to do it."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup water or milk
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
3 eggs
1/4 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy lemon frosting
Directions
Heat oven to 325°F. Generously spray bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking spray with flour.
In medium bowl, beat cake mix, cream cheese, water, grated lemon peel and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack or heatproof serving plate. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave frosting uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds or until frosting is thin enough to drizzle; stir. Spoon frosting evenly over cake, allowing frosting to drip down sides.
Expert Tips
If you have leftover cake, cut it into slices and place individually in sandwich-size food-storage plastic bags. Seal bags and freeze. You'll have a quick treat when you need it!
For added lemon flavor, sprinkle some extra grated lemon peel over the cake.
For a different look, cut your cake into wedges instead of traditional slices.
This elegant pound cake makes a wonderful hostess gift for any dinner party.
VEGAN SWEET POTATO CHOWDER
This was in an email from TheKitchn. I absolutely love TheKitchn, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. If you haven’t checked out either site, I highly recommend them. (Go ahead, I’ll wait…tap, tap, tap.)
Anyway, Kelli Foster, Assistant Food Editor for The Kitchn, wrote, “This vegan sweet potato chowder delivers everything you want in a warm fall soup. It has a velvety broth laced with seasonal spices like sage and paprika, and chunks of tender root vegetables. It's delicious the day you make it, but like most soups, it's even better the next day. So make a big batch of this plant-based chowder and enjoy it all week long.
“We're calling this soup a chowder, given the fact that potatoes are the key to both its velvety base and its hearty texture. And thanks to the silky-starchy contents of sweet potatoes, you'll get the creaminess expected in a chowder without a drop of cream.
“After a quick simmer on the stovetop, a few cups of soup, both broth and vegetables, are whirled through the blender, then stirred back into the pot. Purée a little extra if you're after an even thicker soup, or less for a bowl that's more brothy.”
To view this online, click here. Serves 6.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 medium celery stalks, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds sweet potatoes (2 to 3 medium potatoes), peeled and diced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups vegetable stock
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and celery and cook until the vegetables are soft and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the sweet potatoes, coriander, paprika, sage, salt, and pepper; stir to combine; and cook for 1 minute.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer about 2 cups of the soup, broth, and vegetables to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Stir the purée back into the soup and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
COWBOY CAVIAR
This yumminess is from Margaux Laskey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Margaux wrote, "Depending on where you’re from, this simple dip is known as cowboy caviar, Texas caviar or Dixie caviar, and it’s a favorite at tailgates and potlucks all over the South. Its creator, Helen Corbitt, a dietitian from New York, had never heard of black-eyed peas when she moved to Texas in 1931. The exact details are fuzzy, but at some point in her 40 years working in restaurants there, she combined black-eyed peas with a simple vinaigrette, and it was a big hit. The recipe has evolved over the years, and you can find a number of variations online. Some contain corn and black beans (as this one does), and others avocado. Some call for bottled Italian salad dressing, others homemade. No matter how you tweak it, it’s always good with a pile of tortilla chips."
Yield: 8 cups; Time: 15 minutes, plus 2 hours' chilling
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020433-cowboy-caviar.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Kosher salt and black pepper
For the salad:
3 plum tomatoes, cored, seeded if desired, and diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 2 to 4 cobs) or thawed, drained frozen sweet corn (about 8 ounces)
1 red, green or yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish, if desired
1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Tortilla chips, for serving
Preparation
Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to combine.
Add the tomatoes, red onion, black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, bell pepper, jalapeño and cilantro. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
To serve, toss well and season to taste. Sprinkle with scallions and serve with tortilla chips.
LINGUINE WITH CRISP CHICKPEAS AND ROSEMARY
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
RED CURRY LENTILS WITH SWEET POTATOES AND SPINACH
This comes from Lidey Heuck at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Lidey wrote, "In this vegetarian main inspired by Indian dal, lentils are cooked with an aromatic blend of Thai spices — fresh ginger, turmeric, red curry paste and chile — then simmered in coconut milk until fall-apart tender. Browning the sweet potatoes before cooking them with the lentils brings out their sweetness, balancing the heat from the chile and curry paste, while baby spinach tossed in just before serving adds fresh flavor. Serve over steamed white or brown rice, or with toasted flatbread on the side."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020766-red-curry-lentils-with-sweet-potatoes-and-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (about 1 tablespoon)
1 red chile, such as Fresno or serrano, halved, seeds and ribs removed, then minced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 (13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 (4- to 5-ounce) bag baby spinach
1/2 lime, juiced
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, for serving (optional)
Preparation
In a Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the browned sweet potatoes to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the curry paste, garlic, ginger, chile and turmeric, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, stock, salt and browned sweet potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the lentils are creamy and falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice and season with salt to taste.
Divide among shallow bowls and top with cilantro and coconut flakes, if using.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
LEMON POUND CAKE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Add a splash of sunshine to any spring brunch or dessert spread with this bright lemon pound cake. Yellow cake mix is combined with cream cheese and grated lemon peel for a pound cake that’s rich in flavor and bursting with refreshing citrus notes. With just six simple ingredients and only 15 minutes of prep time, you can whip up this lemon pound cake recipe when you want to bake something homemade, but don’t have all day to do it."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup water or milk
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
3 eggs
1/4 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy lemon frosting
Directions
Heat oven to 325°F. Generously spray bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking spray with flour.
In medium bowl, beat cake mix, cream cheese, water, grated lemon peel and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack or heatproof serving plate. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave frosting uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds or until frosting is thin enough to drizzle; stir. Spoon frosting evenly over cake, allowing frosting to drip down sides.
Expert Tips
If you have leftover cake, cut it into slices and place individually in sandwich-size food-storage plastic bags. Seal bags and freeze. You'll have a quick treat when you need it!
For added lemon flavor, sprinkle some extra grated lemon peel over the cake.
For a different look, cut your cake into wedges instead of traditional slices.
This elegant pound cake makes a wonderful hostess gift for any dinner party.
VEGAN SWEET POTATO CHOWDER
This was in an email from TheKitchn. I absolutely love TheKitchn, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy. If you haven’t checked out either site, I highly recommend them. (Go ahead, I’ll wait…tap, tap, tap.)
Anyway, Kelli Foster, Assistant Food Editor for The Kitchn, wrote, “This vegan sweet potato chowder delivers everything you want in a warm fall soup. It has a velvety broth laced with seasonal spices like sage and paprika, and chunks of tender root vegetables. It's delicious the day you make it, but like most soups, it's even better the next day. So make a big batch of this plant-based chowder and enjoy it all week long.
“We're calling this soup a chowder, given the fact that potatoes are the key to both its velvety base and its hearty texture. And thanks to the silky-starchy contents of sweet potatoes, you'll get the creaminess expected in a chowder without a drop of cream.
“After a quick simmer on the stovetop, a few cups of soup, both broth and vegetables, are whirled through the blender, then stirred back into the pot. Purée a little extra if you're after an even thicker soup, or less for a bowl that's more brothy.”
To view this online, click here. Serves 6.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 medium celery stalks, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds sweet potatoes (2 to 3 medium potatoes), peeled and diced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups vegetable stock
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and celery and cook until the vegetables are soft and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the sweet potatoes, coriander, paprika, sage, salt, and pepper; stir to combine; and cook for 1 minute.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer about 2 cups of the soup, broth, and vegetables to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Stir the purée back into the soup and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
COWBOY CAVIAR
This yumminess is from Margaux Laskey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Margaux wrote, "Depending on where you’re from, this simple dip is known as cowboy caviar, Texas caviar or Dixie caviar, and it’s a favorite at tailgates and potlucks all over the South. Its creator, Helen Corbitt, a dietitian from New York, had never heard of black-eyed peas when she moved to Texas in 1931. The exact details are fuzzy, but at some point in her 40 years working in restaurants there, she combined black-eyed peas with a simple vinaigrette, and it was a big hit. The recipe has evolved over the years, and you can find a number of variations online. Some contain corn and black beans (as this one does), and others avocado. Some call for bottled Italian salad dressing, others homemade. No matter how you tweak it, it’s always good with a pile of tortilla chips."
Yield: 8 cups; Time: 15 minutes, plus 2 hours' chilling
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020433-cowboy-caviar.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Kosher salt and black pepper
For the salad:
3 plum tomatoes, cored, seeded if desired, and diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 2 to 4 cobs) or thawed, drained frozen sweet corn (about 8 ounces)
1 red, green or yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish, if desired
1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Tortilla chips, for serving
Preparation
Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to combine.
Add the tomatoes, red onion, black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, bell pepper, jalapeño and cilantro. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
To serve, toss well and season to taste. Sprinkle with scallions and serve with tortilla chips.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Al Roker's Vegetable Lasagna and Linguine With Crisp Chickpeas and Rosemary. Enjoy!
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
LINGUINE WITH CRISP CHICKPEAS AND ROSEMARY
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
MUSHROOM POTPIE
This is from Alexa Weibel, also on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, “Dried porcini mushrooms and caramelized fresh mushrooms give this dish plenty of deep, earthy flavor. Sweet parsnips, garlicky kale, carrots and potatoes round out the mushroom filling, but if those don’t suit you, the filling is fully flexible. Substitute butternut squash, celery root or just about any root vegetable for the carrots, parsnips and potatoes. The entire dish cooks in a large ovenproof skillet, but you could also transfer the filling to buttered ramekins for individual pies, or divide the mixture between two 8-inch pie dishes for two separate pies. Rich and creamy, it feeds a crowd, and can easily be prepared in advance: Refrigerate the cooked filling overnight, then warm it on the stovetop, assemble and bake. The results justify the effort.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020731-mushroom-potpie.
Ingredients
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (1/2 ounce)
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1/2 pound fresh oyster mushrooms, torn into separate pieces (or shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and halved)
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered (or cut into sixths if large)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1/4 pound lacinato kale, stemmed, leaves thinly sliced crosswise
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup diced peeled carrots (from 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 cup diced peeled parsnips (from 2 medium parsnips, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 cup diced red potatoes (from 2 small potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 (14- to 16-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg
Note: This recipe originally called for 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I've limited this to vegetable stock.
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a small pot. Place the porcini mushrooms in a medium bowl and pour the boiling water on top; set aside to soak and soften.
Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Working in two batches so the mushrooms brown evenly, add half the oyster mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Stir the mushrooms, then continue to cook until browned all over, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and the remaining oyster mushrooms; transfer them to the medium bowl. Add another 2 tablespoons oil, then add the cremini mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 6 to 8 minutes, lowering the heat as needed to avoid burning. Transfer to the bowl.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the onion and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the kale, garlic, thyme and rosemary, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons oil if the pan seems dry. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, until flour is dispersed and lightly toasted, 2 minutes.
Stirring constantly, gradually add the stock, cream and 3/4 cup of the liquid from the soaking porcini mushrooms. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and the sautéed mushrooms and any accumulated juices. Strain the soaked porcini mushrooms, discarding any remaining liquid, then roughly chop the mushrooms and stir them into the filling. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (If making ahead, the filling can be refrigerated a day in advance; just warm it up slightly before assembling and baking.)
On a lightly dusted work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry into a roughly 14-inch circle. Transfer to the top of the skillet, allowing slight overhang, folding under and pinching any overhang just below the rim of the skillet. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Lightly brush the egg wash over the top of the puff pastry, then cut 5 (2-inch) slits into the puff pastry, starting near the center and radiating outward, like the rays of the sun, or create a stripe or crisscross pattern in the puff pastry by gently scoring it with a paring knife without fully cutting through. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork, if desired.
Set the skillet on top of an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and transfer to the middle rack of the oven. Bake until the puff pastry is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA
This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 zucchini, medium dice
1 small yellow squash, medium dice
1 medium yellow onion, medium dice
1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups marinara sauce
3 tablespoons chopped basil
1 pinch red pepper flakes
Lasagna
32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
Preparation
For the sauce:
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
For the lasagna:
While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.
Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.
Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
LINGUINE WITH CRISP CHICKPEAS AND ROSEMARY
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
MUSHROOM POTPIE
This is from Alexa Weibel, also on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, “Dried porcini mushrooms and caramelized fresh mushrooms give this dish plenty of deep, earthy flavor. Sweet parsnips, garlicky kale, carrots and potatoes round out the mushroom filling, but if those don’t suit you, the filling is fully flexible. Substitute butternut squash, celery root or just about any root vegetable for the carrots, parsnips and potatoes. The entire dish cooks in a large ovenproof skillet, but you could also transfer the filling to buttered ramekins for individual pies, or divide the mixture between two 8-inch pie dishes for two separate pies. Rich and creamy, it feeds a crowd, and can easily be prepared in advance: Refrigerate the cooked filling overnight, then warm it on the stovetop, assemble and bake. The results justify the effort.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020731-mushroom-potpie.
Ingredients
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (1/2 ounce)
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1/2 pound fresh oyster mushrooms, torn into separate pieces (or shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and halved)
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered (or cut into sixths if large)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1/4 pound lacinato kale, stemmed, leaves thinly sliced crosswise
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup diced peeled carrots (from 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 cup diced peeled parsnips (from 2 medium parsnips, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 cup diced red potatoes (from 2 small potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1 (14- to 16-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg
Note: This recipe originally called for 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I've limited this to vegetable stock.
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a small pot. Place the porcini mushrooms in a medium bowl and pour the boiling water on top; set aside to soak and soften.
Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Working in two batches so the mushrooms brown evenly, add half the oyster mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Stir the mushrooms, then continue to cook until browned all over, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and the remaining oyster mushrooms; transfer them to the medium bowl. Add another 2 tablespoons oil, then add the cremini mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 6 to 8 minutes, lowering the heat as needed to avoid burning. Transfer to the bowl.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the onion and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the kale, garlic, thyme and rosemary, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons oil if the pan seems dry. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, until flour is dispersed and lightly toasted, 2 minutes.
Stirring constantly, gradually add the stock, cream and 3/4 cup of the liquid from the soaking porcini mushrooms. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and the sautéed mushrooms and any accumulated juices. Strain the soaked porcini mushrooms, discarding any remaining liquid, then roughly chop the mushrooms and stir them into the filling. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (If making ahead, the filling can be refrigerated a day in advance; just warm it up slightly before assembling and baking.)
On a lightly dusted work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry into a roughly 14-inch circle. Transfer to the top of the skillet, allowing slight overhang, folding under and pinching any overhang just below the rim of the skillet. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Lightly brush the egg wash over the top of the puff pastry, then cut 5 (2-inch) slits into the puff pastry, starting near the center and radiating outward, like the rays of the sun, or create a stripe or crisscross pattern in the puff pastry by gently scoring it with a paring knife without fully cutting through. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork, if desired.
Set the skillet on top of an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and transfer to the middle rack of the oven. Bake until the puff pastry is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA
This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 zucchini, medium dice
1 small yellow squash, medium dice
1 medium yellow onion, medium dice
1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups marinara sauce
3 tablespoons chopped basil
1 pinch red pepper flakes
Lasagna
32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
Preparation
For the sauce:
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
For the lasagna:
While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.
Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.
Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
Monday, February 17, 2020
Pasta Party
I love pasta in all its many forms. According to my parents, spaghetti was one of my earliest favorite dinners. I even remember having a lemonade stand with a friend so we could get the money together for a large spaghetti dinner for both families. Well, that was the plan...but I think, truth be told, we spent the money on other necessities, like candy. (We were seven or eight at the time.) But it was a good thought...
Anyway, here are today's pasta recipes, and include Pasta Primavera and my Angel Hair Pasta.Enjoy!
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!”
Serves: 6; Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
ANGEL HAIR PASTA
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
Note: This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. I'm in the process of updating this e-cookbook, including photos of some of the recipes.
Ingredients
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Directions
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
VEGETARIAN ‘CARBONARA’ WITH SPINACH
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kay wrote, “This spinach-laden carbonara deviates from the standard by nixing two of its leading ingredients: custardy egg yolks, which create its silky texture, and cured meat, which delivers its salty punch. This egg-free version uses a combination of butter and starchy pasta cooking water to give the sauce body. A sprinkle of grated smoked Provolone or Gouda adds a bit of the earthy flavor that traditionally comes from guanciale or pancetta. The final coup? Adding greens: One entire pound of baby spinach may look like a gargantuan amount, but it wilts right into the pasta. Most importantly, don’t be shy with the black pepper: It adds a necessary dose of spice and heat.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this yumminess online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019816-vegetarian-carbonara-with-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 pound spaghetti
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound fresh baby spinach
Red-pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (2 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup grated smoked Provolone or Gouda (1 1/2 ounces)
Preparation
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain the pasta. Return the pasta and reserved cooking water to the pot and heat over low. Add the butter and onion-garlic mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until most of the liquid is absorbed and sauce is slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach, season with salt, plenty of pepper and red-pepper flakes, if using, and stir until spinach is wilted. Stir in the Parmesan and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
Divide the pasta among 4 bowls and top each with 2 tablespoons smoked cheese. Finish with more black pepper, if desired.
PASTA SALAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though I suspect it's a diabetic recipe, as it has the nutritional info. Yield: 6 servings (6 cups total)
Ingredients
3 cups cooked tricolor spiral pasta (1-1/2 cups dry), or 3 cups other cooked pasta
1 large ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup black olives, drained and sliced
1/2 cup prepared fat-free Italian or Parmesan-pepper dressing
Directions
Combine all the ingredients; toss to mix. Chill to blend the flavors. (This salad is even better the second day.)
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 165, Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 10 mg, Sodium: 355 mg, Carbohydrate: 22 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 9 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
Anyway, here are today's pasta recipes, and include Pasta Primavera and my Angel Hair Pasta.Enjoy!
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!”
Serves: 6; Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
ANGEL HAIR PASTA
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
Note: This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. I'm in the process of updating this e-cookbook, including photos of some of the recipes.
Ingredients
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Directions
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
This comes from Ali Slagel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “Pasta with chickpeas is a substantial, quickly assembled meal, but what’s alluring about this version is the undercurrent of rosemary. Whole sprigs lightly fried in olive oil provide flavor in two ways: the leaves are crumbled into the pasta for a fragrant punch, and the infused oil slicks the noodles. You could add spinach, arugula or kale when you toss the pasta in the sauce, or simply brighten it with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019901-linguine-with-crisp-chickpeas-and-rosemary.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
8 fresh rosemary sprigs
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound linguine or other long noodle
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted very dry
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Meanwhile, make the rosemary oil: Pat the rosemary dry with a kitchen towel. In a large Dutch oven or skillet big enough to hold all the pasta, warm the oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the rosemary sprigs and fry, flipping once, until sizzling subsides and leaves are crisp, 3 or 4 minutes.
Transfer the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Keep the pot with the oil on the stove.
Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, with the rosemary oil over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and chickpeas and fry, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. If some of the chickpeas explode like popcorn, that’s a good sign.
As the chickpeas cook, remove the rosemary leaves from the sprigs (pinch the top of the sprig and swipe downwards). If any do not come off easily, they aren’t fully fried: Throw them back into the oil with the chickpeas and remove them after a quick fry. Crumble the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers, and set aside.
Once the chickpeas are crisp, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low and stir in the pasta, adding pasta water as needed to form a glossy sauce. Stir in the parsley and crumbled rosemary leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing. Top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
VEGETARIAN ‘CARBONARA’ WITH SPINACH
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kay wrote, “This spinach-laden carbonara deviates from the standard by nixing two of its leading ingredients: custardy egg yolks, which create its silky texture, and cured meat, which delivers its salty punch. This egg-free version uses a combination of butter and starchy pasta cooking water to give the sauce body. A sprinkle of grated smoked Provolone or Gouda adds a bit of the earthy flavor that traditionally comes from guanciale or pancetta. The final coup? Adding greens: One entire pound of baby spinach may look like a gargantuan amount, but it wilts right into the pasta. Most importantly, don’t be shy with the black pepper: It adds a necessary dose of spice and heat.”
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this yumminess online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019816-vegetarian-carbonara-with-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 pound spaghetti
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound fresh baby spinach
Red-pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (2 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup grated smoked Provolone or Gouda (1 1/2 ounces)
Preparation
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 2 cups cooking water and drain the pasta. Return the pasta and reserved cooking water to the pot and heat over low. Add the butter and onion-garlic mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until most of the liquid is absorbed and sauce is slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach, season with salt, plenty of pepper and red-pepper flakes, if using, and stir until spinach is wilted. Stir in the Parmesan and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
Divide the pasta among 4 bowls and top each with 2 tablespoons smoked cheese. Finish with more black pepper, if desired.
PASTA SALAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though I suspect it's a diabetic recipe, as it has the nutritional info. Yield: 6 servings (6 cups total)
Ingredients
3 cups cooked tricolor spiral pasta (1-1/2 cups dry), or 3 cups other cooked pasta
1 large ripe tomato, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup black olives, drained and sliced
1/2 cup prepared fat-free Italian or Parmesan-pepper dressing
Directions
Combine all the ingredients; toss to mix. Chill to blend the flavors. (This salad is even better the second day.)
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 165, Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 10 mg, Sodium: 355 mg, Carbohydrate: 22 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 9 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
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