Rotini With Roasted Peppers Spinach And Pine Nuts Recipes

ROTINI WITH ROASTED PEPPERS, SPINACH AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Char bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Wrap in paper bag; let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed peppers; cut into 1/2-inch strips.
• Mix flour and butter in small bowl to form paste. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add broth, wine, thyme and dried red pepper; simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Whisk in flour paste. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add roasted peppers and spinach and simmer until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta well.
• Add pasta, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts to sauce and toss to coat.

ROASTED PEPPERS WITH PINE NUTS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut the peppers in half from top to bottom; remove the stem, seeds, and ribs, then place the peppers cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet. Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, about 10 minutes. Place the blackened peppers into a bowl, and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove the skins and discard.
• Toast the pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, swirling the pine nuts in the skillet until they turn a light tan color and have a nutty fragrance, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a small bowl to prevent them from overcooking.
• Slice the roasted peppers into strips, and arrange decoratively onto a serving platter, alternating red and yellow strips. Sprinkle the peppers with toasted pine nuts, raisins, garlic, and parsley, drizzle with olive oil, and season to taste with salt and black pepper.