By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
Now is the time to trade in those hearty, filling dishes that are perfect for cold winter nights for lighter fare. Recipes like “Pasta Primavera” from “Seasoned America” (William Morrow and Company, Inc.) by Chef Paul Prudhomme can be brought out in spring and enjoyed throughout the warmer seasons. In Italian, “primavera” means “spring,” making this classic, vegetable-infused pasta dish a favorite this time of year. The vegetable inclusions below can be switched out for your own favorite produce as well.
Pasta Primavera
Makes about 8 cups
Seasoning Mix:
2 ½ tsp. dried sweet basil leaves
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
¾ tsp. white pepper
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. olive oil
1 cup thin strips prosciutto
2 cups cauliflower florets
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
½ cup sliced carrots (cut on the diagonal)
2 cups sliced zucchini
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. minced fresh garlic
1 cup asparagus tips or ¾ cups snow peas
1 cup chopped green onions
2 cups heavy cream
9 oz. of your favorite pasta
Combine the seasoning mix ingredients thoroughly in a small bowl.
Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat. When oil is very hot, add the prosciutto, cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots, and zucchini. Add the butter and, as it melts, stir in the garlic and the seasoning mix. Stir in asparagus tips or snow peas and green onions. Stir well and cook just until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cream and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the sauce has thickened a bit, about 3 minutes.
Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, toss well and remove from the heat. Serve immediately.
Photo courtesy MetroCreative
Pasta Primavera
