Cheesy Mediterranean Artichoke Pasta Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
• While the water boils and pasta cooks, prep your vegetables and remaining ingredients: mince the garlic; halve the cherry tomatoes; drain and roughly chop the artichokes; drain and slice the olives in half. Once the vegetables start cooking, the recipe goes quickly, so you want to be ready.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the tomatoes begin to break down and release some juices into the oil, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Add the artichokes and olives. Drizzle the lemon juice over the pasta. Continue tossing and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until warmed through. If the pasta seems too dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as desired. Remove from heat and sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley. Toss once more and enjoy.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA WITH ARTICHOKES, OLIVES, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, cook, stirring occasionally until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in artichokes and cook until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add olives and half of the tomatoes; cook until tomatoes start to break down, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta to skillet. Stir in remaining tomatoes, oil, cheese, and basil. Thin with reserved pasta water if necessary to coat the spaghetti. Serve with additional cheese.

CREAMY ARTICHOKE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions for al dente.
• Meanwhile, blend the drained artichoke hearts, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a high-powered blender until completely smooth. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large high-sided skillet or braiser over medium heat. Add the roasted red peppers, olives, capers and red pepper flakes and sauté until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and a drizzle of oil if needed. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is slightly softened but not brown, about 1 minute. Stir in the blended artichoke hearts, then reduce the heat to low.
• When the pasta is ready, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the artichoke sauce. Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and toss together until the sauce and water become a cohesive creamy mixture, add more pasta water as needed. Turn off the heat. Add the basil and parsley, toss to combine and serve.

CHEESY MEDITERRANEAN ARTICHOKE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt. Drain; return to pan.
• Add all remaining ingredients except cheese; mix lightly.
• Cook on medium heat 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cheese.

BAKED ARTICHOKE PASTA WITH CREAMY GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees and bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli according to package directions until 3 minutes shy of al dente. Reserve 3 cups pasta water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large oven-proof skillet, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook scallion whites until softened, about 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook another 1 minute. Stir in red-pepper flakes, and cook another 30 seconds.
• Whisk in 1 1/2 cups pasta water, cream cheese and goat cheese, and simmer, whisking, until smooth. Stir in artichokes, 1 cup fried onions, the mozzarella, the parsley, the dill and the reserved scallion greens, then stir in cooked pasta and black pepper. Add more pasta water if it seems too dry; you want this to be fairly liquid, because the pasta will soak up the sauce as it bakes. Taste and add some salt if needed.
• Top pasta with remaining cup of fried onions and the Parmesan. Bake until filling is bubbly and onions are browned, about 10 to 20 minutes. Serve drizzled with olive oil, and with more red-pepper flakes on the side if you like.