Southwestern Pasta Recipes

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute pepper and onions in oil until tender. Stir in the flour, chili powder, chipotle pepper, salt and cumin until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese until melted., Drain pasta; toss with sauce. Stir in bacon and cilantro. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Steps:

• Brown onions and garlic in large skillet over medium heat, using a little water or a small amount of oil.
• Add crushed tomatoes, cumin, salt, pepper, chili powder, oregano and pepper flakes.
• Mix well and bring to a simmer.
• Reduce heat to low and cook, covered for about 15 minutes.
• Add green chiles, red peppers, beans and corn. Mix well and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the mixture from the pan, mix it with the sour cream and then add this mixture back into the pan and mix well.
• To serve, place 1 cup of cooked pasta on each plate and top each serving with about 1 cup of the sauce.
• Top with 3 tablespoons of the grated cheese.
• I often combine the last steps and mix 2 or 3 cups of cooked pasta and the cheese right in with the sauce and serve the whole meal right out of the skillet.

Steps:

• Peel sweet onions and cut into slices about 1/4-inch thick; separate slices into rings.
• In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions, chicken, cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden, about 25 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, corn and chiles and cook 2 minutes longer.
• Pour in the chicken stock and increase heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Combine the sauce, cooked pasta, cilantro and goat cheese, stirring and tossing to soften the cheese.

Steps:

• Place cooked pasta in a large bowl, add peppers, onions, tomatillo, corn and lima beans. Place vinegar and chipotle peppers in a blender and blend until smooth. Slowly add olive oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the salad with the dressing and add cilantro.

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in large bowl.
• Mix ketchup, mayo and taco seasoning in medium bowl until blended. Stir in milk. Add to pasta mixture; mix lightly.
• Top with cheese.

Steps:

• Prepare tomatoes:
• Bring medium pot of water to boil. Fill medium bowl with cold water and place on work surface close to pot. Cut shallow X through skin at bottom of tomatoes. Working in batches, add tomatoes to boiling water and cook 30 seconds to blanch. Using slotted spoon, transfer each batch of tomatoes to cold water to cool quickly
• Using small sharp knife as aid and starting at X on bottom, pull skin off tomatoes. Using same knife, make neat sone-shaped incision around core at stem end of each tomato; remove cores. Cut tomatoes in half crosswise; squeeze out seeds. Cut tomatoes into small dice and place in large bowl. Season with salt.
• Make fresh tomato sauce:
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Add garlic and sauté just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour garlic oil over tomatoes and toss to blend. Mix in cilantro, onion, lime juice, chilies, tomato paste and chili powder. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Make pasta:
• Cook fusilli in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain fusilli well. Add fusilli and half of cheese to tomato sauce; toss to blend. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer past to large shallow serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.

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.
• In a large bowl combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic. Stir in pasta and set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in corn, beans, green pepper, red pepper and 1/2 of the cilantro leaves. Spoon onto a platter and garnish with tomatoes and remaining cilantro. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese spread, seasoning and milk until blended. Cook and stir chicken and peppers in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 7 to 8 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, corn and cream cheese mixture; cook and stir 3 min.
• Add pasta and 1/2 cup shredded cheese; cook and stir 1 to 2 min. or until cheese is melted.
• Top with remaining shredded cheese. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand until cheese is melted.

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.
• In a large bowl combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic. Stir in pasta and set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in corn, beans, green pepper, red pepper and 1/2 of the cilantro leaves. Spoon onto a platter and garnish with tomatoes and remaining cilantro. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit; mist a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Bring pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente about 10 minute or as package directs. Drain.
• 2. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper,onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder and 2 tsp., salt; saute until onion is tender, 6- to 8 minute Add tomato paste and cook stirring constantly, 2 minute longer.
• 3. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute Gradually whisk in milk. Cook, whisking until thickened about 5min. Add diced tomatoes and 1 cup cheese. Cook, whisking for 1 minute or until cheese melts.
• 4. Remove from heat. Stir in chiken and paste.Scrape into baking dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until bubbly; 20-25 minute (preheat broiler to high and broil casserole for a minute to brown, if desired )Let stand for 10-15min. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired, serve.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook pork in oil in batches over medium heat for 6-7 minutes or until juices run clear; return all to the pan. Add onions and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, corn, salsa and spices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Combine the cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Drain pasta; add to pork mixture and toss to coat.
• Serve desired amount of pasta with sour cream. Cool remaining pasta; transfer to freezer containers. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Heat the sherry and oil in a heavy skillet over med-high until it boils.
• Saute the garlic and shallots for 3 minutes, stirring.
• Add the both types of tomatoes and the jalapenos.
• Reduce heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• While sauce simmers, prepare the pasta (fresh pasta should only need to boil for 5 minutes or less). Stir the fresh pasta occasionally, as it can get pretty sticky.
• Drain the pasta, rinse briefly with hot water, and drain again.
• Add the pasta to the skillet with the sauce, then sprinkle in the fresh herbs.
• Toss pasta and sauce together, then serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high and position the rack 8 inches from the heat.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta until slightly undercooked-a little chewy at the center.
• While the water is coming up to a boil, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the vegetable oil. Season the chicken with cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Add the seasoned chicken to the hot skillet and cook until lightly brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, and jalapeños and continue to cook for 5 minutes. While the chicken is cooking with the onions, make the Cheddar sauce.
• In a medium sauce pot, melt the butter and add the flour to it. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in the milk. When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese, cilantro, and parsley with a wooden spoon. Season with a little salt and pepper and remove the cheese sauce from the heat.
• Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it back into the large pot, add the contents of the chicken skillet and all of the Cheddar sauce, and stir to combine. Transfer to a baking dish and place under the broiler to lightly brown.

Steps:

• Prepare macaroni as label directs but do not add salt to water; drain and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage, green pepper, and onion, stirring frequently until vegetables are tender; discard any fat in skillet.
• Stir in zucchini, stewed tomatoes, corn, and chilies with their liquid; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cook 10 minutes to blend flavors.
• Stir macaroni into mixture in skillet; sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high and position the rack 8 inches from the heat.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil; salt the boiling water and cook the pasta until slightly undercooked-a little chewy at the center.
• While the water is coming to a boil, preheat a large skillet over med-high heat with the vegetable oil.
• Season the chicken with cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt, and pepper; add the seasoned chicken to the hot skillet and cook 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Add in the onions, garlic, and jalapeno peppers; continue to cook 5 minutes.
• While the chicken is cooking with the onions, make the cheddar sauce.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour to it.
• Cook 1-2 minutes over medium heat, then whisk in the milk.
• When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese, cilantro, and parsley with a wooden spoon.
• Season with a little salt and pepper; remove cheese sauce from heat.
• Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add back into the large pot.
• Add in the contents of the chicken skillet and all the cheddar sauce; stir to combine.
• Transfer mixture to a baking dish and place under the broiler to lightly brown.