Three Pepper Pasta Recipes

THREE-PEPPER AND ONION SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Salt the water, add the pasta and cook to al dente.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel seeds and stir for 1 minute, then add all the peppers and the onions. Saute for 8 to 10 minutes, then add the garlic and season with salt and pepper, to taste. When the peppers and onions are tender, add the wine and stir for 30 seconds, then add the stock and tomatoes. Reduce the sauce for 7 to 8 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, drop it into the skillet, and toss it with the butter and the sauce. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl, sprinkle with a little cheese, top with the basil, and serve immediately.

THREE-PEPPER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a blender, add the oil, vinegar, basil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; cover and process until blended. Drain and rinse pasta in cold water; place in a large bowl. Add the peppers, tomato, olives and onions. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Stir mozzarella cheese. Serve at room temperature.

CACIO E PEPE (CHEESE AND PEPPER PASTA)

Steps:

• Bring a 12-quart pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 2 cups of cooking water.
• Return pasta and cooking water to the pot over low heat. Add 3 1/2 cups Pecorino Romano cheese, butter, and pepper. Stir until cheese has melted and formed a creamy sauce, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.
• Serve with additional cheese, if desired.

THREE-PEPPER PASTA

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• While pasta is cooking, heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook bell peppers in oil about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.
• Stir pasta sauce into peppers. Simmer uncovered 15 minutes. Serve over pasta.

THREE PEPPER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• In a blender or food processor, blend the olive oil, white wine vinegar, basil, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until smooth.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, dressing mixture, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, tomato, and olives. Top with mozzarella cheese to serve.

3 PEPPER PASTA

Steps:

• (Optional) Brown the sausage well, crumbling with a fork. Remove from skillet and set aside. Remove excess grease.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add onion and cook to desired tenderness. (I like to cook the heck out of the onions, but you really don't have to.)
• Add mushrooms and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes.
• Add peppers and cook to desired tenderness. (I only cook the peppers for a couple of minutes because I like them to stay a little bit firm.)
• When the veggies are at your desired tenderness, add the red wine vinegar and sugar. If using sausage, add the meat back to the skillet.
• If I am using fresh basil, I add it last. However, if I am using dried basil, I add it with the mushrooms.
• Pour all contents over al dente penne pasta. I like to top with grated parmesan cheese.

THREE-PEPPER PASTA WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Cook ziti as directed on package. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add bell peppers; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until onion and peppers are crisp-tender, stirring frequently.
• Add cooked ziti; stir gently to mix. Remove from heat; stir in pesto and vinegar. If desired, add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cheese.
• TIP: If balsamic vinegar isn't a staple in your pantry, use 2 teaspoons cider vinegar and a pinch of brown sugar instead.

THREE PEPPER PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside; keep warm.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees, toast pine nuts on a cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes, do not over toast.
• Transfer pine nuts to a food processor.
• Spray an unheated large skillet with olive oil no stick spray - or use 1 teaspoons olive oil. Add the red, yellow and green peppers. Stir in the onions and garlic.
• Cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, add basil and garlic to blender or food processor. Blend until finely chopped. Slowly pour oil, then chicken broth in thin streams with the blender/processor running.
• Gradually add Parmesan cheese, a paste will form.
• Toss paste with pasta, divide amongst 4-6 plates.
• Top with pepper mixture.
• ((If you want to use as an entire meal add a cooked chicken breast cut into strips into the pepper mixture and cook with the peppers. Add a little extra olive oil and cook until the peppers and onions are tender.)).

3-INGREDIENT CACIO E PEPE (PASTA WITH CHEESE AND PEPPER)

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups cheese and 2 Tbsp. pepper in a large bowl; add oil and 3/4 cup cold water and mash with a fork to make a thick paste. Spread paste evenly in bowl.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Using tongs, transfer pasta to bowl with cheese mixture; reserve pasta cooking liquid in pot. Stir pasta vigorously to coat with sauce, adding pasta cooking liquid to thin if necessary, until sauce clings to pasta and is creamy but not watery.
• Divide pasta among plates and top with additional cheese and pepper. Serve immediately.