Southwest Fusilli With Tomatoes Garlic And Chilies Recipes

SOUTHWEST FUSILLI WITH TOMATOES, GARLIC AND CHILIES

Steps:

• Prepare tomatoes:
• Bring medium pot of water to boil. Fill medium bowl with cold water and place on work surface close to pot. Cut shallow X through skin at bottom of tomatoes. Working in batches, add tomatoes to boiling water and cook 30 seconds to blanch. Using slotted spoon, transfer each batch of tomatoes to cold water to cool quickly
• Using small sharp knife as aid and starting at X on bottom, pull skin off tomatoes. Using same knife, make neat sone-shaped incision around core at stem end of each tomato; remove cores. Cut tomatoes in half crosswise; squeeze out seeds. Cut tomatoes into small dice and place in large bowl. Season with salt.
• Make fresh tomato sauce:
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Add garlic and sauté just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour garlic oil over tomatoes and toss to blend. Mix in cilantro, onion, lime juice, chilies, tomato paste and chili powder. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Make pasta:
• Cook fusilli in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain fusilli well. Add fusilli and half of cheese to tomato sauce; toss to blend. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer past to large shallow serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.

FUSILLI WITH RAPINI (BROCCOLI RABE), GARLIC, AND TOMATO WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a saucepan with enough water to cover the broccoli rabe, sprinkle in some salt, and bring the salted water to a boil. Stir in the broccoli rabe, and cook until bright green and just starting to become tender, about 2 minutes; drain the rabe, and cool in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Fill a pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the fusilli, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the 2 roughly-chopped garlic cloves until they start to turn translucent, about 2 minutes; sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and stir in rosemary sprig, dried Italian herb mix, and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Stir in the blanched rabe, white wine, and tomatoes; remove rosemary sprig, and bring the mixture to a boil. Mix in the cooked fusilli pasta, green onions, and 1 minced clove of garlic; simmer for 1 more minute, and serve topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

FUSILLI WITH CREAMY TOMATO, GARLIC, AND MEAT SAUCE (OR ROTINI)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, cook beef, red pepper flakes, and onion until the meat is browned and onions soften.
• Add garlic and mushrooms, and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms soften (5 minutes).
• Drain off fat.
• Stir in undrained tomatoes, cheese, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and pepper.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated (about 40 minutes).
• Cook pasta according to package directions (15 minutes).
• Drain and keep warm.
• Gradually stir the whipping cream into the sauce.
• Arrange the pasta on plates or on a serving platter.
• Spoon sauce over pasta.
• If desired, garnish with rosemary.