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Jewish World Review
Penne with a trio of vegetables and herbs is a pasta side that steals the show
By
Betty Rosbottom
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JewishWorldReview.com |
It seems to be happening more and more frequently. I plan a menu, pick up the phone to invite a group for dinner, and then learn that someone has dietetic restrictions. Several weeks ago, I had chosen a lamb and vegetable stew as the centerpiece for a spring supper, and then discovered that one of the guests was a vegetarian. The young woman could not have been more gracious, offering to pick around any meat served, and volunteering that she did eat fish. Right away I knew that the evening's offerings would need to be changed.
Instead of fretting about the situation, I made it a challenge and was delighted when I came up with a far more inventive main course than the original. Since our friend could indulge in seafood, I grilled salmon fillets and garnished them with pats of lemon butter. The fish was served atop a warm pasta prepared with penne, asparagus, peas, and snow peas, all tossed with ricotta and Parmesan cheeses. A trio of fresh herbs, including tarragon, mint, and chives, provided a distinctive finishing touch.
The penne turned out to be everyone's favorite dish. It was a breeze to assemble. I sliced the asparagus and trimmed the snow peas ahead. The peas (either fresh or frozen) just needed to be measured. At serving time, I popped the pasta into a pot of boiling water, and when it was almost done, I added the vegetables and cooked them for several minutes as the pasta finished. When drained, the penne and vegetables were tossed with the cheeses and herbs.
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Although I served the penne and vegetables that night as a side dish to salmon, I knew that this creation could easily stand on its own. Twice since then, I've made it the star attraction accompanied by a watercress and cucumber salad. Perfect for the warm weather, this delicious pasta dish will be a tempting option whenever I discover that a vegetarian is coming to dinner!
PENNE WITH A TRIO OF VEGETABLES AND HERBS
- 3/4 pound (3 cups) penne
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups (8 ounces) fresh or frozen peas, defrosted
- 1/2 pound medium asparagus, tough ends broken off and discarded, and spears cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 pound snow peas, ends trimmed and strings removed
- 3/4 cup ricotta
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, preferably Parmigiano Reggiano plus 1/4 cup extra for garnish
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
- 3 tablespoons chopped mint
- 3 tablespoons chopped tarragon
- Several chives, mint sprigs, and tarragon sprigs for garnish, optional
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt. Cook 10 minutes (or 3 minutes less than what package directions suggest), then add peas, asparagus, and snow peas to the pot and cook 3 minutes more or until vegetables are just tender and pasta is al dente.
Drain pasta and vegetables in a colander, then return them to the pot (which is off the heat) in which they were cooked. Stir in ricotta, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese and herbs, and mix well. The ricotta will flake and appear like bits of snow on the pasta and the vegetables. Taste and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt or more if needed.
Transfer pasta to a serving bowl and serve immediately. If desired, garnish pasta with some fresh chives and fresh mint and tarragon sprigs. Sprinkle each serving with some of the remaining Parmesan cheese. Serves 4 as a main course or 6 as a side dish.
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© 2012, Betty Rosbottom. Distributed by Tribune Media Services Inc.
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