Pasta Primavera

need a good recipe for valentine’s day? i think this might be it, it was for me.  it has a rainbow of vegetables, lean chicken, and pasta.  serve with a side salad and crusty bread.  but don’t forget to leave room for something amazing for dessert like brownie pudding!

pasta primavera
3 garlic cloves
2 cups carrots, cut into strips
4 small zucchini, cut into half moons
2 yellow pepper, cut into strips
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
1 pound pasta
2 cooked chicken breasts, diced into bit size pieces
juice of 2 lemons
1/2 cup parmesan
fresh basil for garnish

preheat oven to 375 degrees. on a large baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, and pepper. arrange evenly over the baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes, tossing half way through.

meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package instructions. drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

toss the pasta with the vegetable mixture, chicken, reserved cooking liquid, juice of 2 lemons, and parmesan in a large bowl. season with salt and pepper, to taste. sprinkle with the basil and serve immediately.

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

this recipe is one i had over two years ago, and i still can’t get it out of my head.  i even started making it for my cousin when she had twins, and i got her obsessed too.  maybe it’s because lebanese people like everything doused in lemon juice, but the salty feta just puts it over the top.  it’s great in the summer for a bbq, but in the winter pair it with a nice piece of broiled salmon.

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
1 small yellow squash, sliced into half moons
1 small zucchini, sliced into half moons
1 red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound orzo or rice-shaped pasta

Dressing:
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Topping:
3/4 pound, feta cheese crumbles

preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the squash, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

for the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. let cool to room temperature, then add feta.  check the seasonings, and serve cold for best results.

altered from the orginial barefoot contessa recipe.

How to Roast a Vegetable

roasting is one of the simplest cooking techniques.  you put it in the oven and forget about it.  and one of my favorite things to roast is vegetables.  it intensifies the natural flavors and caramelizes the veggies due to their natural sweetness.  here’s the non recipe recipe.  cut the vegetables into bit sized pieces (if it’s asparagus leave it whole), toss with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  roast between 350 and 400 degrees until vegetables are tender (20-45 minutes depending on the veggie).  it’s that simple.  try it with:

• potatoes
• asparagus
• butternut squash
• zucchini
• cauliflower
• broccoli
• eggplant
• onions
• bell peppers
• tomatoes
• beets
• carrots

you can also switch it up by adding some garlic, herbs, other spices like cayenne or balsamic vinegar.