Gemelli With Roasted Asparagus And Walnut Pesto Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Mix pesto with garlic and oil and toss with asparagus on a baking sheet.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Roast in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until done to your.
• liking.
• Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve hot.

GEMELLI WITH ASPARAGUS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Immediately remove from skillet and transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
• Return the skillet to medium heat and add the oil. Add the asparagus and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the asparagus is slightly tender, 4-5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
• Add the asparagus and garlic mixture, reserved pine nuts, lemon juice, salt and lemon-pepper seasoning; toss gently to combine, serve at once.

GEMELLI WITH SHRIMP, TOMATOES AND WALNUT-PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Blend parsley, 3/4 cup walnuts, 5 teaspoons garlic and lemon peel in processor until nuts are finely chopped. With machine running, gradually add oil and blend until coarse paste forms. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add shrimp; sauté 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and simmer until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 2 minutes.Drain pasta well; return to same pot. Add parsley sauce; toss until coated. Mix in shrimp and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper; top with 1/4 cup walnuts.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Break off woody stems of asparagus.
• If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
• (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Dot with margarine.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
• (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.

GEMELLI WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees 1. Combine walnuts, grated pecorino and garlic in a food processor and pulse to chop. 2. Add juice from half the lemon (reserve the other half), olive oil and truffle oil and mix in food processor about 60 seconds, until combined in a thick paste. 3. Boil pasta, as directed. 4. Trim ends from asparagus and chop into 1/2 inch pieces. Toss asparagus with juice from reserved half of lemon, salt and pepper to taste and drizzle with olive oil. Spread on cookie sheet and roast for 7-10 minutes, depending on thickness of stalks. 5. When pasta is ready, drain, and while it is still hot, toss with walnut pesto. Remove asparagus from oven and toss into pasta mixture. 6. Top with prosciutto ribbons and garnish with pecorino shavings.