Penne Ortolano Recipes

Steps:

• For the bolognese: Heat the oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes, and fry until golden, about 1 minute. Add the onions and saute until the edges are crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Throw in the sirloin and saute for 5 minutes until the beef is crumbled. Add the San Marzano tomatoes, fresh parsley, oregano, raw sugar, bay leaf, sea salt and some pepper. Stir and simmer for 20 minutes.
• For the pasta: Bring salted water to a boil. Throw in the pasta and cook until almost al dente, 8 to 9 minutes. Drain. To assemble: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 15-by-10-inch baking dish, 2-to-3-inches deep, with the butter. In a bowl, mix the pasta with half the bolognese sauce. Lay down a thin layer of pasta, 1/4 cup sauce, 1/3 cup mozzarella and 1 tablespoon Parmigianno. Repeat until all the pasta is used. Top off with mozzarella. Place in the oven and bake until the edges are golden and bubbling, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Core and seed peppers and cut them into 1/4-inch strips. Cut eggplant into cubes 1/2-inch or smaller.
• In large frying pan, saute garlic and peppers in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat until they are very soft. Remove and set aside in medium bowl. Add remaining oil to pan, and raise heat to medium-high. Add eggplant, and brown quickly, removing cubes as they brown and adding them to peppers.
• While vegetables cook, cut zucchini in half lengthwise, and then slice about 1/2-inch thick. Add zucchini pieces to pan, brown quickly on both sides, and add them to eggplant and peppers.
• Remove pan from heat, and immediately stir minced herbs into hot oil. Pour over vegetables and keep warm.
• Bring 5 to 6 quarts water to rolling boil. Add at least 2 tablespoons salt and then the pasta.
• While pasta is cooking, warm the tomato sauce in separate pan.
• Start testing pasta at 6 minutes. When pasta is done, drain it and turn it immediately into preheated bowl. Mix rapidly with hot tomato sauce. (Or drain pasta when it is not quite done, and finish cooking in sauce.) When sauce is thoroughly mixed in, add sauteed vegetables, and mix lightly. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add penne, and cook 2 minutes less than package instructions for al dente; add broccoli. Cook 2 minutes or until penne is al dente and broccoli is bright green. Reserving 1/2 cup pasta water, drain pasta and broccoli; set aside.
• In the same pan, heat oil over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add pasta water as needed to help loosen any browned bits from bottom of pan.
• Add penne and broccoli, and cook until warmed through; season with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta mixture to a serving dish. Top with ricotta; season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Shred zucchini on the large holes of a box grater. (You should have about 4 cups.) Toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a colander set over a bowl. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Drain pasta directly over zucchini in colander set in sink. Transfer both to pot; toss with olive oil, Parmesan, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Season with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve, dressed with more oil and cheese.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place butternut squash on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil; season with salt. Transfer to oven and roast until squash is browned and tender, about 15 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Set pasta and reserved cooking liquid aside.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add pancetta and cook until just crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, crushed red pepper, and sage. Cook until shallots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add penne and squash and toss gently, adding reserved pasta cooking liquid as necessary to moisten.
• Add cheese and black pepper and cook, tossing gently, until pasta and squash are heated through. Serve immediately with more grated cheese, if desired.

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain pasta; return to pot.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add eggplant to skillet; season generously with salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until eggplant begins to release juices, about 5 minutes. Uncover; cook, stirring, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes (if bottom of pan browns too much, add a few tablespoons water, and scrape with spoon).
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and 1/4 cup water to skillet; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Toss sauce and basil with pasta; gently reheat if necessary. Top each serving with a spoonful of ricotta, and garnish with more basil.

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add penne. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain reserving 1/4 cup cooking water.
• 2. Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly golden. Add eggplant and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add zucchini and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Add peppers and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Add half the basil; season with a pinch of salt. Stir in tomatoes, and cook for about 3 minutes. Add cooked penne and enough reserved cooking water to loosen the mixture slightly. Toss to combine. Stir in remaining basil. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt.
• 3. Divide evenly between two serving plates; serve immediately with cheese, if desired.