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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Fresh and flavorful, this pasta primavera chock full of vegetables makes a lovely entrée for spring. A combination of equal parts milk and cream, half-and-half creates a silky, full-bodied sauce. Ingredients:
2 cups green beans, trimmed and halved crosswise |
2 cups broccoli florets |
1/2 cup (1-inch) slices asparagus (about 2 ounces) |
6 ounces uncooked fettuccine |
1 tablespoon olive oil |
1 cup chopped onion |
2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic |
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper |
1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas |
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved |
2/3 cup half-and-half |
1 teaspoon cornstarch |
3/4 teaspoon salt |
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil |
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese |
Directions:
1. Cook green beans in boiling water 1 minute. Add broccoli and asparagus; cook 2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove vegetables from pan with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Return water to a boil. Add pasta; cook 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and add to vegetable mixture.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 cup onion, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper; sauté 3 minutes or until onion begins to brown. Add peas, and sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes; sauté 2 minutes. Combine half-and-half and cornstarch, stirring with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium. Add half-and-half mixture and salt to pan; cook 1 minute or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Pour sauce over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with basil and cheese. Serve immediately.
3. Wine note: Pasta Primavera is a burst of spring. The wine that accompanies it should be, too. Sauvignon blanc is a good option since the fresh green quality mirrors vegetables perfectly. But because this is a cream-based pasta primavera, I would opt instead for a pinot blanc. Rounder and more mellow than sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc at its best soars with freshness and vivacity, and is loaded with floral and citrus character. My favorite: Robert Sinskey Pinot Blanc 2005 Los Carneros, California ($18). -Karen MacNeil
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