Springtime Pasta Recipes

Steps:

• For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, lemon zest and juice, and season with salt and pepper.
• For the pasta: Toss the pasta with the asparagus, peas, roasted peppers, tomatoes, shallots and dill. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing to coat. Let the salad hang out for a bit to soak up all of the flavor.
• When ready to serve, bowl it up and shave some ricotta salata over the top to seal the deal.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute asparagus and onion in butter for 5-8 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender., Add the ham, cream, pepper and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook over low heat for 1 minute. Drain pasta. Add to the asparagus mixture; toss to coat. If desired, top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Steps:

• Boil the pasta in salted water. Add the kale for the final 2 mins, then drain, reserving a little of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, dry-fry the bacon in a nonstick pan until crisp. Remove from the pan and drain off most of the fat, leaving behind about 1 tsp. Gently fry the onion in the fat for 2-3 mins until soft.
• Tip the cooked pasta and kale into the pan, then stir through the bacon and goat's cheese. Add a little of the pasta cooking water if the mixture seems a bit dry. Serve in bowls scattered with grated Parmesan, if you like.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Tip in the garlic and cook for 1 min until lightly coloured. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, then stir in the basil. Bring up to the boil, then turn down the heat and leave to gently simmer for 10 mins. Meanwhile, boil the spaghetti according to pack instructions.
• Drain the spaghetti, reserving a little of the cooking water separately, then return to the pan. Add the artichokes to the tomato sauce until heated through, then pour it over the spaghetti. Stir in a little parmesan, most of the chopped parsley and a splash of the cooking water if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately with the remaining parmesan and parsley sprinkled over.

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Tip in the pasta, cook for 3-4 mins. Add the frozen peas and broad beans, then cook for 1 min more to heat through. Drain well, then toss through the olive oil and lemon zest. Place on plates, dollop over the ricotta

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Place in a large bowl. Add zucchini, olives, red pepper and onion. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until just tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• 2. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat and quickly sautéthe vegetables until just tender. Do not overcook. Season well with salt and pepper. Add the half-and-half and cook to thicken the sauce, 5 minutes. Season well with pepper. Toss in the drained pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan. Garnish with diced tomatoes and chives or pea shoots, if available. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Cook spaghetti as directed on package in 4-quart Dutch oven or saucepan; drain and return to Dutch oven.
• Meanwhile, cook sausage, fennel and garlic in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink in center; drain. Remove sausage from skillet.
• Place sugar snap peas, mushrooms and broth in skillet. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomatoes and green onions; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Add sausage and parsley; cook 1 minute longer or until hot.
• Add sausage mixture to spaghetti in Dutch oven; toss gently to mix.