Pasta With Fresh Tomatoes And Pine Nuts Recipes

PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in small bowl. Pour 2 cups boiling water over. Let stand until tomatoes soften, about 15 minutes. Drain tomatoes, reserving soaking liquid. Thinly slice tomatoes.
• Spray large nonstick skillet generously with vegetable oil spray. Add mushrooms, onion, wine, garlic, reserved tomato soaking liquid and sliced tomatoes. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquids are reduced by half and vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook, pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to same large pot.
• Pour sauce from skillet over pasta. Add Parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Toss, adding reserved cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls if mixture is dry. Mix in basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

PASTA WITH PINE NUTS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook fusilli pasta in large pot of boiling water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta well. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add pasta and fry until beginning to crisp at edges, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Transfer pasta to large bowl.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to same skillet. Add toasted pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes and stir over high heat until just warmed through, about 1 minute. Pour pine nut mixture over pasta. Add chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA WITH TOASTED PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In large pot boil pasta until al dente. Drain.
• In heavy skillet, over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic; saute until tender. Add tomatoes and thyme; cook stirring frequently, until tomatoes are hot, yet still retain their shape and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Remove and discard fresh thyme sprig, if used. Add basil and drained pasta; toss until heated.
• Transfer to serving bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper and sprinkle evenly with pine nuts.

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.

ONE-POT PENNE WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pine nuts on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven, tossing occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes; set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook according to manufacturer's directions. Add spinach during last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain; return pasta and spinach to pot. Add oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Toss well.
• Serve immediately, topped with ricotta, pine nuts, and Parmesan.

SPAGHETTI WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water, and set aside to soften for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a large covered pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, in a small pan on low heat or in a microwave-safe bowl, heat the oil and garlic until golden. Set aside. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, reserving the soaking liquid. Cut the tomatoes into thin strips.
• When the pasta is done, drain it and place in a serving bowl. Add the cooked garlic, sun-dried tomato strips, pine nuts, and parsley. Toss well. Stir in some of the reserved sun-dried tomato soaking liquid to moisten the pasta, if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot, topped with grated cheese if you like.
• Ingredient Notes
• Add chopped fresh tomatoes, a couple tablespoons of capers or sliced olives, and/or some thinly sliced fresh fennel (sauté it in the oil before adding the garlic).
• Serving & menu ideas
• Have a tossed green salad and enjoy Mocha Sorbet (page 272) for dessert.