Basil Penne Supreme Recipes

CHICKEN & PENNE WITH BASIL PARMESAN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot of salted water and heat to a boil but do not cook the pasta yet.
• Butterfly the chicken breasts so they are the same thickness. (See How to Butterfly a Chicken Breast)
• Coat both sides with the salt and pepper.
• Heat a deep wide saute pan with the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Once hot, add the chicken breasts and count 30 seconds, then cover, lower heat to the lowest flame and continue to cook chicken, flipping once the first side is cooked, until no longer pink inside. Depending on the thickness of the chicken, this should take 5-10 minutes to cook on low.
• Remove cover and place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Pour off but save liquid in the pan.
• Over medium heat add the butter and once melted, add flour and cook for three minutes, stirring often.
• Slowly add the cream whisking as you add.
• Add bay leaves, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, whole basil leaves, nutmeg, mustard and pepper flakes. Bring to a bubble then lower to a simmer and simmer ten minutes, stirring often.
• While cream sauce cooks, add Penne pasta to the hot water and cook to just short of al dente. Still should be a little bit chewy.
• Strain the cream sauce through a fine sieve and discard the solids. Taste and salt if needed. Pour the sauce back into the pan, reserving one cup that will be drizzled over each portion when serving.
• Slice the cooked chicken breast into strips and add to the sauce. Add the liquid that you saved after you cooked the chicken.
• Use a spider or strainer and scoop out and add the pasta to the sauce, but do not discard the pasta water yet.
• Stir the mixture over low to medium heat until the pasta is fully cooked. Add a little pasta water if it starts to dry out a little.
• Serve with the reserved sauce, chopped basil and grated Parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large high-sided saute pan or saucepan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the onions, garlic and tomatoes with the juice. Mash the tomatoes with a potato masher in the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the penne and 2 tablespoons salt and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta.
• Mash the tomatoes again until coarsely chopped. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pasta water to thin out the sauce and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Thin with additional pasta water if necessary.
• Transfer the pasta to the sauce; season with salt and pepper. Add some of the Parmigiano-Reggiano to the pan and combine. Cook the pasta in the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, adding more grated cheese as the pasta cooks. Add some of the basil and parsley and the chile flakes and then drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the pasta to a large shallow serving dish and top with freshly grated cheese. Top with the ricotta and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Garnish with the remaining basil and parsley; serve immediately.

PENNE WITH FRESH TOMATOES, BASIL, AND FRESH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Put a large pot of salted water on for the pasta. Meanwhile, prepare your sauce. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minute or less. Add the tomatoes and cook them for 3 to 5 minutes, just until they begin to release some of their juice.
• Cook the pasta in the pot of salted boiling water for 12 to 13 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta and basil to the pan with the tomatoes and toss. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Serve the pasta in bowls, equally distribute the fresh mozzarella and grated Parmesan between the bowls. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the bowls of pasta and serve immediately.

BASIL PENNE SUPREME

Steps:

• COOK, RINSE AND REFRIGERATE PASTA UNTIL COOL. TOSS WITH REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND REFRIGERATE UNTIL SERVING.

TOMATO BASIL PENNE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Cook pasta in boiling water until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Heat basil and olive oils in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in oil until soft. Add tomatoes, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in pepperjack, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. When cheese begins to melt, mix in cooked penne pasta. Season with fresh basil.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper; sauté until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add asparagus, tomatoes, stock and 1/4 cup sliced basil. Cook until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Transfer to large bowl.
• Pour sauce over pasta. Add cheese, parsley and 1/4 cup chopped basil. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

PENNE WITH BASIL-SEAFOOD SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add scallops and shrimp and sauté until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer seafood to bowl. Add garlic to same skillet; sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes and half of basil; simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add clam juice and cream and simmer until thickened to sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Add penne, seafood, remaining basil and toss. Season with salt and pepper.