Fast & Easy Dinner: Gemelli With Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies

partysugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:45:39 -0800

Several years ago, after watching an episode of this new Food Network show called 30 Minute Meals, I decided to take the somewhat unheard-of chef's advice. According to this Rachael Ray lady, anchovies lose their intense fishy flavor when cooked down in a sauce. After trying one of her recipes, I realized she was right! Since then, I've made many pasta dishes that include anchovies as an ingredient.

I can't wait to experiment with this broccoli rabe variation. Toasted panko bread crumbs provide crunch and crushed red pepper flakes add a subtle heat. Ready to overcome your fear of anchovies? Get the recipe and read more.

Gemelli With Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1 pound gemelli or other corkscrew pasta
1 (1-pound) bunch broccoli rabe, coarse stems discarded and remainder cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1 cup panko (Japanese crisp bread crumbs)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 (2-ounce) can flat anchovy fillets, drained
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta in a 7- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water 6 minutes, then stir in broccoli rabe and boil until pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more.
While pasta is cooking, toss panko with 1 tablespoon oil in a shallow baking pan until coated and bake, stirring once or twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Season crumbs with salt.
While broccoli rabe (with pasta) is cooking, cook garlic, anchovies, and red-pepper flakes in remaining 7 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring and mashing anchovies into oil with a wooden spoon, until garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Drain pasta and broccoli rabe in a colander, then add to anchovy mixture in skillet, tossing to combine.
Serve pasta sprinkled with some toasted panko and pass remainder.

Serves 4-6.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Gemelli With Sausage and Swiss Chard

partysugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:03:31 -0800

Pasta is an obvious choice for a super swift yet delicious meal. Why? Because an easy and tasty sauce comes together while the pasta cooks. Sautéed Italian sausage, garlic, and swiss chard are delicious when tossed with cooked gemelli. Raisins, pine nuts, and Parmesan round out the hearty dish.

Fill free to get experimental with the recipe. Use arugula instead of chard, or dried cranberries instead of raisins. For the recipe, please read more.

Gemelli With Sausage and Swiss Chard
From Everyday Food magazine

1/3 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 pound Swiss chard, tough stems removed, leaves cut into thin strips
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper
1 pound gemelli or other short pasta
3/4 cup raisins, plumped in boiling water and drained
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

In a large skillet, toast pine nuts over medium-high heat, shaking the pan to toast evenly, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from skillet.
In the same skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage, and cook, breaking it up with a fork, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add chard, garlic, and pepper; cook, tossing, until chard wilts, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover to keep warm.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions, about 12 minutes.
Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water. Return pasta to pot.
Add sausage mixture to pasta with 1/2 cup reserved cooking water, raisins, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan; toss to combine. Add more cooking water if pasta seems dry.
Serve with more Parmesan.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Gemelli With Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies

Fast & Easy Dinner: Gemelli With Sausage and Swiss Chard