Fusilli With Asparagus And Bacon Recipe Epicuriouscom

Steps:

• 1. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, then add 2 tablespoons salt.
• 2. While waiting for the water to boil, heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper flakes and sauté quickly to keep the ingredients from scorching. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the mushrooms darken slightly in color and are softened but still holding their shape, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and asparagus and cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Stir in the cream, immediately reduce the heat to keep it from scorching, and cook for several minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a sauté pan over low heat, shaking the pan, just until they are warm and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• 4. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil (10 minutes if you are using pappardelle).
• 5. Add the basil, butter, pine nuts, and cheese to the pan with the mushrooms and toss well.
• 6. Reserve a cup or so of the pasta's cooking liquid, then drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the mushrooms, asparagus, and sauce. If the sauce seems too dry, stir in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Toss, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and more pepper flakes if necessary.
• 7. Present the pasta in a bowl and serve family style from the center of the table, or divide among individual plates.
• Your Nightly Specials
• Mushrooms: Instead of using the cremini, use 1 cup dried porcini mushrooms.
• Dried Mushrooms: Dried mushrooms like porcini, morel, and chanterelle offer a quick way to add flavor to cooking and are especially useful in the off season or winter months. Always rinse dried mushrooms under cold running water to remove any lingering dirt and sand, then reconstitute them in hot water for 20 minutes, drain, and strain the liquid. Save the liquid for soups and sauces. Keeping a small packet of dried mushrooms, which costs just a few dollars, in your pantry will five earthy flavor on demand.
• Use a spice grinder to grind dried porcini to a powder. This seasoning powder will very economically make a full pot of risotto taste like a much more costly version, something many restaurants do to make flavors pop. Add 1 tablespoon to the finished mushrooms for a powerful and full flavor at an economical price.
• Porcini Mushrooms: Fresh porcini are among the most delicious of mushrooms. When they are available each fall, by all means use them, although they are expensive and need to be cooked as quickly as possible because they are highly perishable.
• Add 1/2 cup of blanched and shocked fresh or frozen peas, spincach, and/or broccoli buds.
• Toss some shredded, leftover roasted turkey or duck meat into the pan along with the cooked pasta.

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp. Drain on paper towels; discard drippings from skillet.
• Meanwhile, cook fusilli in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quart water) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta-cooking water, then add vegetables to pasta in pot and cook, partially covered, 2 minutes (water will stop boiling). Drain.
• Add pasta with vegetables to skillet along with pesto and 1/4 cup reserved cooking water and toss. Season with salt and moisten with additional cooking water if necessary.
• Top with crumbled bacon and a generous amount of freshly ground pepper.

Steps:

• Cook pasta until al dente. Cover and set aside.
• Cook bacon, onion and garlic in frypan. Cook until bacon is crispy.
• Stir in cream, peas and parsley. Simmer uncovered for 4 minutes.
• Add cream mixture to pasta. Stir over heat till combined and warmed through. Season to taste.

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling water boil the collards for 10 minutes, drain them in a colander set over a large bowl, and return the cooking liquid to the kettle. In a large skillet cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until it is just browned and transfer it with a slotted spoon to a small bowl. Pour off the fat from the skillet and in the skillet cook the garlic, the onion, and the red pepper flakes in half the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened and the garlic is golden brown. Bring the cooking liquid to a boil, in it boil the fusilli until it is al dente, and drain the fusilli well. To the skillet add the collards, the bacon, the fusilli, the remaining oil, and the vinegar and toss the mixture well. Season the fusilli with salt and pepper, divide among 4 bowls, and sprinkle each serving with some of the Parmesan.

Steps:

• Process 1 garlic clove in a blender until finely chopped. Add ⅓ cup cashews and 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt and blend until cashews are finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add 1 cup packed basil leaves and half of asparagus (about 4 oz.) and process until a smooth paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With processor running, stream in ⅓ cup olive oil and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice until combined.
• Cook 12 oz. whole wheat fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 1 minute less than package directions. Add remaining asparagus and cook for 1 minute more. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, then drain pasta and asparagus.
• Return pasta and asparagus to pot and add pesto. Toss, adding pasta cooking liquid ¼ cup at a time, until desired texture is achieved. Top each serving with additional basil leaves.

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning once, until browned and crisp, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, then crumble.
• Meanwhile, cook asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes, depending on thickness. (If using both green and white asparagus, cook white asparagus first to keep them from turning green.) Drain and transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry.
• Whisk shallot, vinegar, maple syrup, and mustard in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil until emulsified, then whisk in vegetable oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Serve asparagus drizzled with vinaigrette and topped with eggs, herbs, and bacon.
• Do Ahead: Vinaigrette can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Asparagus can be cooked 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Steps:

• Cook pasta until al dente, adding the asparagus for the last minute of cooking time.
• Place the peas in a colander, then drain the pasta and asparagus over the top of them (this will just heat the peas without overcooking them).
• In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Combine broth and cornstarch, add to pan and bring to a boil.
• Cook, stirring, until broth starts to thicken, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and add cream, juice, salt, and peppers.
• Stir to combine.
• Add pasta and vegetables to the sauce, tossing gently to coat.
• Serve immediately.