Ricotta Walnut Sauce For Pasta Lighter Version Recipes

Steps:

• GARNISH: cherry tomatoes or broccoli florets, more grated Parmesan cheese, and sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper, optional.
• Boil a large pot of water; cook pasta until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, in bowl of food processor, place ricotta, yogurt, margarine, garlic, walnuts, and chhese; process till smooth.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• When pasta is done, drain well.
• Toss with sauce.
• Top with garnishes and serve immediately.
• VARIATIONS: - when sauce is tossed with pasta, add steamed vegetables such

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients, except the Parmesan cheese, parsley and basil, into a food processor; process until the mixture is a slightly chunky puree.
• Transfer to a small saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until warm (Do not let sauce come to a boil).
• toss with hot, freshly cooked pasta in a large pot over low heat.
• Remove from the heat, toss in the Parmesan cheese, parsley and basil.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook orecchiette according to package directions, reducing time by 1 minute, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Mix until a paste forms. Add 1/3 cup hot pasta water and whisk well. Repeat with another 1/3 cup pasta water.
• Transfer pasta to a saucepan using a strainer, letting most, but not all, the water drain off. Reserve cooking water. Add the sauce mixture and turn heat to medium. Cook and stir until sauce thickens enough to coat the pasta evenly, about 2 minutes. Add more pasta water if sauce gets too thick. Stir in pesto. Taste and season as desired. Transfer pasta to a warm bowl.

Steps:

• Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, turn off and scrape down the bowl. Add the walnuts and bread crumbs, and process to a paste. Add the ricotta, 2 tablespoons warm water and Parmesan. Pulse until well blended. Add the olive and walnut oils, and process until smooth and homogenous. Taste and add salt as desired. Transfer to a wide pasta bowl.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the broccoli raab or broccoli. Boil four to five minutes, until tender but still bright. Transfer to the ice water. Drain and chop broccoli raab medium-fine (regular broccoli need not be chopped). Set aside.
• Bring the water back to a boil and cook the pasta al dente, following the timing instructions on the package but checking a minute or two before the indicated cooking time. Before draining the pasta, add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the ricotta mixture and stir until well blended. The sauce should have a creamy consistency (add more of the pasta water if necessary). Just before draining the pasta, add the broccoli raab or broccoli back into the pot with the pasta to heat, then drain. Toss at once with the sauce, and serve, passing Parmesan or Pecorino on the side.