Three Way Garlic Pasta With Beans And Peppers Recipes

PASTA WITH PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan, then add the sliced peppers, season with fine salt and freshly ground pepper, cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Stir frequently.
• After 15 minutes stir in the the onion and cook for a further 10 minutes. Add a touch of water if needed.
• When the onion and the peppers are done, add the olives, the balsamic vinegar and the garlic, give a good stir and cook for about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your likings, you might want to add an extra pinch of salt or more black pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salty water to the boil and cook your pasta until al dente, according to the package's directions. Keep in mind to reserve some of the starchy cooking water when you drain the pasta (about ½ cup should be fine).
• Add the pasta to the pan along with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and some of the pasta cooking water (add it gradually until needed). Addd the basil leaves and toss well until the pasta looks well coated and moist.
• Divide the pasta with peppers into 4 bowls, garnish with a few extra basil leaves and serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese if you don't keep it vegan. Enjoy!

THREE WAY GARLIC PASTA WITH BEANS AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Reserve 6 large garlic cloves. Put remaining cloves in 2 cups cold water, then simmer in a small saucepan, covered, until garlic is very soft, about 30 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup garlic cooking liquid, then drain garlic in a sieve.
• Purée cooked garlic with reserved cooking liquid and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth.
• While garlic simmers, roast peppers on racks of gas burners over high heat, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 10 to 12 minutes (or broil peppers on a broiler pan about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes). Transfer to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap, then let stand 20 minutes. Peel peppers, discarding stems and seeds, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Mince 2 reserved garlic cloves with thyme and remaining teaspoon salt using a large knife. Transfer along with spinach to a large serving bowl.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Make sauce while pasta is cooking:
• Finely chop remaining 4 garlic cloves and cook in oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add peppers and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add beans and garlic purée to skillet and bring to a simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
• Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta. Add pasta, sauce, vinegar, and cheese to spinach and garlic in serving bowl and toss to combine. (Add some of reserved cooking water if mixture is dry.) Serve immediately.