Tuscan Bean Pasta

Tuscan Bean Pasta


From: Cuisine at Home, Issue No. 69
Makes: 6 cups
Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition: per 1 cup with 1 tbs gremolata - 347 calories, 11g fat, 44g carbs, 6g fiber, 13g protein.

Ingredients:
For Pasta Salad

• 3/4 lb refrigerated or frozen filled pasta (ravioli or tortellini)
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1/4 cup carrot, diced
• 1 tbs garlic, minced
• 1 tbs minced fresh thyme
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (OR Vegetable Broth)
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 1  tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed (15 oz)
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cups salad greens (escarole or spring greens mix)
• shredded Parmesan

For Lemon-Thyme Gremolata:

• 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs minced fresh thyme
• 2 tsp lemon zest, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Sweat onions, carrot, garlic, thyme, and pepper flakes in oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in broth, wine, and lemon juice, and bring to a boil. Add cooked pasta, beans and tomatoes, simmering just to heat through. Off heat, season with salt and pepper.
3. To serve, place 1 cup salad in each of 4 bowls. Top with broth, pasta, gremolata and Parmesan.
4. For the gremolata: toast crumbs in oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until golden, stirring often. Transfer to a bowl and toss with remaining ingredients.

Black Bean Enchiladas

Black Bean Enchiladas

From: Cuisine at Home, Issue No. 44

Makes 8 enchiladas
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition: Per enchilada - 342 calories; 40% from fat; 15g total fat; 43g carbs; 1066mg sodium; 11g fiber.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce
• 1 tbs adobo sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 asadero or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 8 6" corn tortillas
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 cups "Salsa Verde" (Recipe on this blog)
• 1/2 cup queso freso or feta cheese crumbled

Additional Add-ins:

• 1 cup Mexican chorizo sausage, browned and crumbled; or diced Spanish chorizo
• 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
• 1 cup cooked, shredded pork
• 1 cup bacon bits and chopped scallion
• 1 cup cooked long-grain rice

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Saute onion in oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat for 3 minutes. Add garlic and oregano; saute 1 minute.
3. Puree half of the beans, the chipotle, the sauce, and salt in a food processor. 
4. Combine onion mixture, remaining whole beans, broth, and shredded cheese with the bean puree.
5. Cover bottom of pan with 1 cup of salsa verde.
6. Fry corn tortillas in a little oil to soften them. Dip tortillas in salsa at bottom of pan to coat one side. Fill with 1/3 cup of bean mixture and roll up; placing seam side down.  Repeat with all 8 of the tortillas. Top with 1 cup of salsa verde and crumbled cheese.
7. Bake enchiladas for 10 minutes. Serve with corn salsa (also on this blog).

Pasta with Spinach Pesto, Corn, and Beans

Pasta with Spinach Pesto, Corn, and Beans

From: Cuisine at Home, Issue No. 46

Makes 4 cups
Total Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition: Per cup 410 calories; 58% from fat; 27g total fat; 31 carbs; 751mg sodium; 4g fiber

Ingredients:
For the Spinach Pesto -

• 1 cup fresh spinach, packed
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, packed
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbs pine nuts, toasted
• 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbs lemon zest, chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

For the Pasta and Vegetables -

• 1/4 lb pappardelle (A wide, flat pasta. Fettuccine is a fine substitute)
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels
• 1 1/2 cups green beans, trimmed, halved

For the garnish -

• 1 cup tomatoes, seeded, diced
• 1 tbs white wine vinegar
• 1 tbs olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

To Serve - 

• 1 cup whole milk ricotta 
• Drained pasta and vegetables
• Spinach pesto
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Tomato Garnish
• Olive oil, coarse sea salt, and coarsely ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Process all pesto ingredients in a food processor until paste-like; set aside.
2. Cook pappardelle, corn, and beans in a large pot of boiling, salted water until tender but not mushy, about 7 minutes; drain. (If using another shape pasta, adjust time as package directs. When 7 minutes are left in the cooking pasta, add the vegetables.)
3. Combine ingredients for Tomato Garnish while pasta and vegetables cook.
4. To Assemble-
   Layer components by first placing ricotta in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Top with pasta and vegetables. Pour pesto over pasta and toss. Sprinkle with Parmesan and tomatoes, then finish with oil, salt and pepper.