Cheese Basil Pine Nut Pasta Recipes

LEMON PINE NUT PASTA

Steps:

• Nuts -- First, toast the pine nuts. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pine nuts until slightly brown and you can smell the aroma. The heat just brings out their flavor. Set to the side and rough chop.
• Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Once the pasta is tender, (reserving 2 cups of the pasta water) and just keep warm in the strainer you make the sauce. NOTE: Whole wheat makes all the difference in this dish.
• Garlic -- In the pot you cooked the pasta in, return to the heat and add the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add in the garlic and cook for one minute to lightly toast.
• Finishing -- Return the pasta to the pot with the garlic and oil and add the lemon juice, zest, parmesan, pine nuts, parsley, salt (go lightly, the parmesan is salty), pepper and 1 cup of the pasta water and toss until everything is well combined. You may need a bit more water until it is the consistency you like.
• That's it. You can garnish with extra parmesan or parsley if you want, but I don't think it is necessary. ENJOY.

PASTA WITH TOMATOES, PINE NUTS AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts and garlic and sauté until light brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and next 3 ingredients and heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over pasta and toss thoroughly. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve immediately, passing additional Parmesan separately.

PASTA WITH BACON, CHEESE, LEMON AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Put the cheese, herbs and red pepper flakes on the table. Zest the lemon and put the zest on the table in a small serving bowl. Cut the lemon in half.
• Put bacon in a medium-size heavy pot and turn the heat on low. Cook, turning occasionally, until fat has rendered and bacon is chewy-crisp, about 10 minutes. Lift out bacon pieces and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Keep warm on top of the stove.
• When the water boils, add pasta, stir well and cover. When the water comes back to the boil, uncover and stir again.
• Put 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan and melt it over medium-low heat. When it foams, throw in the pine nuts and cook, shaking the pan, until they turn brown and toasty. Turn off heat and squeeze the lemon into the pan, cupping your hand underneath to catch any pits. Stir and set aside. Transfer bacon to a serving bowl and place on the table.
• As soon as the pasta is tender (it will cook a bit more later on), drain it, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Immediately return the pasta to the pan over low heat. Toss in a chunk of butter. Add a splash of cooking water and a pinch of salt, stir well, cover and let rest 1 minute. Taste and adjust the seasonings until the pasta is completely cooked and tasty (but plain).
• For those who like plain pasta or pasta with just butter and cheese, set aside a good amount in serving bowls. For others, pour the pine nuts and butter into the pasta remaining in the pot, add another splash of cooking water, and toss to combine. Serve from the pot or in a serving bowl, passing the various toppings.