Ziti With Mushrooms Pancetta Peas Recipes

PEAS & PANCETTA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium (10-inch) saute pan, add the pancetta and shallot, and cook over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta is browned and the shallot is tender. Add the frozen peas, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook over medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until the peas are hot. Stir in the mint, taste for seasonings, and serve hot.

ZITI WITH MUSHROOMS, PANCETTA & PEAS

Steps:

• You will need a deep saute pan that can hold the sauce, and the pasta.
• Have all your ingredients ready to go before beginning to cook.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat and cook the pancetta and onions until the onions are softened.
• Add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine.
• When the mushrooms have cooked for about 2 minutes, add the thyme and toss.
• Let cook another minute, then add the Marsala to the pan and toss with the other ingredients.
• Let reduce about half (about 2-3 minutes), then add the chicken stock.
• Toss and let this reduce about half (about 2 to 3 minutes).
• Add the peas, toss, then the cream, then let this mixture reduce slightly.
• Taste, adjust for pepper and salt.
• Add the pasta and 1/2 of the cheese to the pan and toss to combine everything thoroughly.
• Serve with the remaining cheese.

PENNE WITH PANCETTA AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, cook pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat until browned but not crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Pour pancetta grease out of the skillet, and add butter. Increase heat to medium-high and stir in sliced mushrooms. Cook and stir until the mushrooms have softened and released their liquid. Add the minced garlic, and cook 2 more minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, then stir in cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly.
• To serve, toss the cooked penne with the sauce, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 F
• In a large, 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat, add onion, garlic and mushrooms and season generously with salt and pepper, Italian herbs, cooking and stirring until mushrooms release all their liquids and this cooks off, and eventually they get golden brown, about 12 minutes. Taste and make sure these are salted and flavorful.
• Add fresh spinach and wilt, then add 2 cups of broth or stock, a jar of marinara sauce and the dry pasta. Stir, and bring to a simmer. Dot with the dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with mozzarella and pecorino. Cover well and place in the oven to bake for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and let the cheese get a little golden for a couple of minutes (feel free to broil). If there seems to be too much liquid left in the pan, simply simmer uncovered on the stovetop for 1-2 minutes until it evaporates.
• Garnish with fresh herbs and chili flakes.

CREAMY PANCETTA PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook the pappardelle according to the package directions.
• While the pasta is cooking, put a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the pancetta until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the cream. When the cream is hot, add the Parmesan and stir.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet. Stir well and season with some pepper. I find it does not usually need salt because of the salty pancetta and Parmesan. Serve immediately. I like to serve it with an arugula salad.

BAKED ZITI WITH MUSHROOMS, PEPPERS, AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Chop yellow bell peppers and onion and mince garlic. In a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan cook yellow peppers, onion, and garlic in 1 tablespoon oil, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until peppers are soft, about 30 minutes. Stir in cream. In a blender puree mixture in batches (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a large bowl, and season with salt and pepper. (Sauce may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring sauce to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Thinly slice mushrooms lengthwise and cut red and orange bell peppers into 1/4-inch-wide strips. In a deep large heavy skillet cook mushrooms and peppers in remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until peppers are softened and most of liquid is evaporated, about 8 minutes, and season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Fill a 6- to 7-quart kettle three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in ziti and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water and drain ziti well in a colander. Rinse ziti and drain well. Thinly slice scallion greens. Into sauce stir ziti, mushroom mixture, scallion greens, 1 1/2 cups Parmesan, reserved cooking water, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Bake ziti in middle of oven until hot and pasta begins to brown, about 20 minutes.

BAKED ZITI WITH VEGETABLES AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers, and sauté 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in basil, salt, black pepper, tomatoes, and tomato sauce, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thick. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts. Stir in pasta. Spoon into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Dollop with ricotta.
• Cover and bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Note: To make ahead, assemble casserole as directed. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature, and bake as directed.