Creamy Penne Pasta With Walnuts Recipes

PENNE WITH CREAMY WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large covered pot of water to a rapid boil. While the water heats, wash the spinach and transfer it to a separate large pot. The water clinging to the leaves should provide enough moisture to steam it. Cover and cook the spinach on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, until wilted but still bright green. Drain. In a food processor or blender, combine the spinach, walnuts, cottage cheese, garlic, Parmesan, basil, and salt and pepper until smooth, working in batches if necessary. Add pepper to taste and set aside. When the water boils, stir in the pasta, cover, and return to a boil. Then uncover the pot and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes. While the pasta cooks, cut the broccoli into spears, blanch it in boiling water to cover until just tender, about 5 minutes, and set it aside. Drain the pasta and serve immediately in individual warmed bowls, topped with spinach walnut sauce and several steamed broccoli spears. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if you wish.

CREAMY ONE-POT MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a wide, deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. When hot, add the olive oil and leeks, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and lightly golden, 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then stir and cook, undisturbed, until the mushrooms start to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the water from the mushrooms to evaporate, encouraging caramelization.) Add the juice of one lemon half to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the pasta and stock; stir well. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat. Begin tasting pasta 10 minutes after you add it. (All pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times. You want the pasta to be just tender.)
• Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter and parsley. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir until butter is melted and dispersed. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, top with ricotta, red-pepper flakes (to taste) and more chopped parsley.

PENNE WITH CREAMY WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large covered pot of water to a rapid boil.
• While the water heats, wash the spinach and transfer it to a separate large pot.
• The water clinging to the leaves should provide enough moisture to steam it.
• Cover and cook the spinach on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, until wilted but still bright green.
• Drain.
• In a food processor or blender, combine the spinach, walnuts, cottage cheese, garlic, Parmesan, basil, and salt and puree until smooth, working in batches if necessary.
• Add pepper to taste and set aside.
• When the water boils, stir in the pasta, cover, and return to a boil.
• Then uncover the pot and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes.
• While the pasta cooks, cut the broccoli into spears, blanch it in boiling water to cover until just tender, about 5 minutes, and set it aside.
• Drain the pasta and serve immediately in individual warmed bowls, topped with spinach-walnut sauce and several steamed broccoli spears.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if you wish.
• Enjoy!