Penne Pasta With Alex Guarnaschelli Recipes

FARFALLE PASTA WITH BEET VINAIGRETTE AND PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• For the parsley pesto: Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the kosher salt until the water tastes like seawater and stir to blend. Add the parsley and cook for 1 minute, and then remove with a slotted spoon. Immediately plunge leaves into an ice bath and allow to cool, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain the leaves slightly and then put them in the blender with the sugar and olive oil. Blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add some water to facilitate blending. Taste for seasoning. Stir in the scallions and set aside in a bowl large enough to hold the pasta.
• For the beet vinaigrette: Put the beet pieces in a medium saucepan and add 1 cup of water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Allow it to reduce until there is about 1/4 cup liquid. Add the remaining 1 cup of water and reduce again until you have only 1/4 cup left. Season to taste. Remove from the heat and stir in the red wine vinegar and olive oil.
• For the pasta: In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt; the pasta water should taste like seawater. Add the pasta to the pot and stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom as it cooks. Cook the pasta until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting) 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving some pasta cooking liquid in case you need it later.
• To serve: Pour the pasta into the bowl with the parsley pesto. Add the beet vinaigrette and butter and toss to blend. Add the Parmesan and finely sliced beet greens, if using. Serve immediately. Alternatively, you can drizzle the red beet vinaigrette over the pasta for a different color effect.

CORN PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the coriander and garlic and let it toast until you smell it, 30 to 45 seconds. Add half of the corn and cook for a couple of minutes to soften. Add the sugar, scallions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and simmer until the cream reduces slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. If the corn is "stringy" or the sauce grainy, strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer the sauce to a large skillet and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes. Keep warm.
• In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. The pasta water should taste like sea water. Add the pasta to the pot and stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom as it cooks. Cook the pasta until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve a little of the pasta cooking liquid in case you need it later, then drain the pasta in a colander.
• Toss the pasta in the skillet with the sauce and remaining corn. Add some basil leaves and salt and pepper. Scoop into bowls and top with Parmesan and more basil leaves.

DRUNKEN PENNE PASTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the oil to the pan and heat until the verge of smoking. Then add the onions and reduce the heat to medium, cooking until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Once the onions are cooked, add half the prosciutto and garlic, stirring into the onions. Then add the vodka to delgaze the pan and allow the alcohol to cook off.
• Next, add the tomato sauce, cream and chicken stock, cooking for 4 to 5 minutes to reduce the liquid by half to yield 1 cup. Next, add the pasta, stirring into the cream sauce and warming the pasta. Finish with the butter, stirring again, and then remove from the heat and portion into bowls. Finish with the cheese, parsley and remaining prosciutto.