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Watch the Superbowl with Pumpkin Chili Mexicana & Wine

Watch the Superbowl with Pumpkin Chili Mexicana & Wine

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Every year about now, the biggest sporting event in America rolls around: the Superbowl. There are many famous things about this game: the rivalry of the teams, the personalities of the players, and the best commercials of the year. But my favorite thing about the big game is the food.

Now I don’t mean chips and dip, or hot wings from the local sports bar. I want something homemade, hearty and spicy. And easy…especially if I’m the one planning the party. And I love chili. I wanted to make mine a bit healthier, but still spicy, and pair it with some good wine–no beer for this girl.

 

Pumpkin Chili Mexicana

So I found a Pumpkin Chili Mexicana recipe, added extra pumpkin, extra tomato sauce and some beans with jalapeños, then topped it with fresh arugula (cilantro works well too), crème fraîche, white pepper and grated cheddar/jack cheese (shown above). This recipe is so versatile! And it goes well with wine.

Meat Substitutions:

  • Use ground lamb instead of turkey, with fresh mint and Feta cheese.
  • Use ground ostrich instead of turkey, with fresh oregano and Gruyère cheese (good ostrich can taste like filet mignon).
  • Use other exotic ground meats like rabbit or bison – these are a bit harder to find, but I’ve been recently inspired by meat-loving chefs in Los Angeles to try them.

Wine Pairings:

  • Lighter chilis go very well with dry to off-dry Pinot Gris or Riesling, like those from Alsace, France. You can also find excellent styles of Pinot Gris from Oregon.
  • Darker chilis go well with a Rhone-style blend or varietal. Try a full-bodied Grenache or GSM blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre). There are also many good choices from Australia and California.

So enjoy the Superbowl, try a new combination for your chili, and take a virtual wine tour. You’ll find the best pairing before the first commercial.

Pumpkin Chili Mexicana

Adapted from Very Best Baking

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
    2 cans (14.5 oz each) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 oz.) Pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15.25 oz.) kidney beans, drained
  • 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chiles
  • 1/2 cup loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

HEAT vegetable oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add turkey; cook until browned. Drain.

ADD tomatoes with juice, pumpkin, tomato sauce, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, cumin and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

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Pumpkin Chili Mexicana
Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz each) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
  • 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15.25 oz.) kidney beans, drained
  • 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chiles
  • ½ cup loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. HEAT vegetable oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add turkey; cook until browned. Drain.
  2. ADD tomatoes with juice, pumpkin, tomato sauce, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, cumin and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
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White Chicken Chili Recipe: It’s Not Complicated

White Chicken Chili Recipe: It’s Not Complicated

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White Chicken Chili
Photo by VeryBestBaking.com

 

This past Valentine’s Day, we decided to have a chili cook-off. It seemed like a much better idea for this romance holiday on a cold winter night, especially with our particular relationship statuses; “it’s complicated” seems to be most popular in our group’s social media circles.

This White Chicken Chili recipe was my submission. I love it for its creaminess, the spicy cumin taste (I actually added a bit more cumin than in the recipe) and the boost of greens with the Spinach. I also added a little cheese on top, and some folks also topped theirs with raw onions and sour cream. Wine pairing note: this soup goes great with Chardonnay.

White Chicken Chili recipe

I’m not sure if my chili won the cook-off, but it was the first pot to be emptied! It took the chill out of a cold night and it warmed our bellies and our hearts. And it’s not complicated.

White Chicken Chili

Recipe by VeryBestBaking.com

Ingredients for 8 servings:

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups mild salsa verde
  • 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup loose-pack frozen corn
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
  • Baked tortilla chips and light sour cream for serving (optional)

Directions:

HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook on each side until golden. Transfer chicken to plate; cover.

ADD onion to same saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in cumin and coriander; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in salsa verde, cannellini beans, pinto beans, water and corn. Cook for about 10 minutes or until hot.

CUT or shred chicken into bite-size pieces and add to saucepan along with any accumulated juices on plate. Stir in evaporated milk and spinach; cook for a few minutes just until heated through and spinach is slightly wilted. Serve topped with crumbled tortilla chips and dollop of sour cream.

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White Chicken Chili Recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8
 
Try this delicious low-fat version of white chicken chili!
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 to 1½ cups mild salsa verde
  • 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup loose-pack frozen corn
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
  • Baked tortilla chips and light sour cream for serving (optional)
Instructions
  1. HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook on each side until golden. Transfer chicken to plate; cover.
  2. ADD onion to same saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in cumin and coriander; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in salsa verde, cannellini beans, pinto beans, water and corn. Cook for about 10 minutes or until hot.
  3. CUT or shred chicken into bite-size pieces and add to saucepan along with any accumulated juices on plate. Stir in evaporated milk and spinach; cook for a few minutes just until heated through and spinach is slightly wilted. Serve topped with crumbled tortilla chips and dollop of sour cream.
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Scrumptious Homemade Tortilla Soup Recipe

Scrumptious Homemade Tortilla Soup Recipe

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Soup is one of my all-time favorite meals; I could eat it every day during winter, spring and fall. And sometimes in the summer.

If you like to make your own stock, soup makes an incredibly delicious, hearty and healthy meal. And making stock is easier than you think. The first thing I do is store all chicken carcasses, steak bones, lobster shells or pork bones from whatever I happen to have eaten recently in freezer bags. And during the week, I also keep various vegetable trimmings in a freezer bag, then dump it into a crockpot with the meat bones or shells and let it simmer on low for several hours. Then, pour it through a sieve or use a skimmer to remove the bones and extra stuff (but keep the meat in). And voilà.

Homemade Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

6 cups chicken or homemade broth 
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 small onion, diced
12-16 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large zucchini, trimmed and halved
1 carrot, peeled and quartered
1 bell pepper, halved and seeded
1/2 jalapeño chile, seeded
2-3 large garlic cloves, peeled
2-3 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1 cup whole kernel corn
3 teaspoons ground cumin
3 teaspoons chile powder
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Tortilla chips and sour cream, for garnish

Directions:

  1. Place stock in large saucepan or pot on medium heat.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil.
  3. Coarsely chop tomatoes, zucchini, carrot, bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic (or use food processor to chop); add to skillet.
  4. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until vegetables are slightly browned.
  5. Add to pot, and bring to a low boil.
  6. Add chicken, corn and cumin and chile powder and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Top with chopped cilantro, and add salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve with tortilla strips, sour cream and cilantro, as desired.

Print recipe below.

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Scrumptious Homemade Tortilla Soup Recipe
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 servings
 
Making scrumptious homemade tortilla soup is easy - and even more delicious if you like to make your own chicken stock or vegetable stock.
Ingredients
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small zucchini, trimmed and halved
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and quartered
  • ½ green bell pepper, halved and seeded
  • ½ jalapeño chile, seeded
  • 1 large garlic clove, peeled
  • 1½ cups chicken breast meat, cooked and chopped
  • ½ cup whole kernel corn
  • 3 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • Tortilla chips and sour cream for garnish
Instructions
  1. Place stock in large saucepan or pot on medium heat.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Coarsely chop tomatoes, zucchini, carrot, bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic (or use food processor to chop); add to skillet.
  4. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until vegetables are slightly browned.
  5. Add to pot, and bring to a low boil.
  6. Add chicken, corn and cumin and chile powder and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Top with chopped cilantro, and add salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve with tortilla strips, sour cream and cilantro, as desired.
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Luscious Leftovers: New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

Luscious Leftovers: New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

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New Year’s Bloody Mary Meatloaf

After a long New Year’s weekend, we had a fridge full of leftovers and a craving for comfort food. My friend the Comedienne thought up this recipe as she rummaged through a fridge-full of delicious dinner, snack and cocktail-mix remnants.

It’s great after the holidays or any time you have a lot of leftovers in the kitchen. Caramelize some onions and garlic, then add any delectable tidbits you have in the fridge: roasted potatoes, chicken and fennel sausage, figs, stuffing or other side dishes and casseroles. Blending these additions before mixing them into the ground beef spreads the flavors throughout the loaf. And after the holidays, the time is right for a unique, home-made catsup using spicy Bloody Mary mix, something we had plenty of on New Year’s Day. Perfect for curing hangovers and filling bellies.

New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
2-4 gourmet sausages (jalapeño mango, chicken fennel or any other gourmet grocery variety)
Any amount of other leftovers (stuffing, figs, tomatoes, vegetables, gravy, etc.)
1 pound ground beef
Freshly ground salt & pepper
4 T fresh basil, chopped
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (fresh)
1/4 cup milk
Spicy Bloody Mary mix
Leftover cheese (we used Carmody, but anything will do)
5 slices pancetta

Directions:

Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until slightly browned/caramelized. Remove sausages from their casings, and blend along with other leftovers until smooth (if you’re using a larger amount of leftovers, reduce sausages to 2). Add half the onion/garlic mixture and blend in.

Add this blended mixture to the ground beef. Add salt, pepper, 1 cup spicy Bloody Mary mix, 2 T fresh basil, eggs, breadcrumbs and milk. Mix thoroughly.

Oil a large baking pan with sides. Lay the meat mixture in the pan in long thin layer. In the middle, lay down a strip of cheese – however much you like, we recommend a lot – and roll sides of loaf up and over the cheese (like a jelly roll). Put the meatloaf in the fridge to set and preheat the oven to 350.

Put reserve onions/garlic in small stockpot and add 2-3 cups spicy Bloody Mary mix. Add 1/4 cup red wine leftover from the night before (if you were all big drinkers the night before, you can substitute with balsamic vinegar). Cook over medium heat until reduced by half. Turn the heat off.

Place meatloaf on prepared pan and top it with a layer of the reduced Bloody Mary mixture, then lay the pancetta on top. Cook for 45 minutes or until meat is cooked through. Garnish with remaining fresh basil and serve with Bloody Mary catsup.

Obviously, this meatloaf pairs very well with both leftover red wine and – you guessed it – spicy Bloody Marys. You’ll feel better almost immediately.

Pumpkin Post: Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

Pumpkin Post: Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

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I love soup. I eat soup for lunch almost every day, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. There’s something so satisfying in this steaming bowl of broth, cooked vegetables, meats and just plain nourishment for the soul. Especially when it’s cold or rainy outside (or over-air-conditioned inside) and the soup has been cooking all day.

This soup incorporates pumpkin and ginger, two healthy powerhouses. Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin A plus it’s low in fat. It also adds a flavor punch to many savory dishes, from pastas to soups to casseroles.

Pumpkin is also great in chili!

Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

Ingredients for 4 Servings:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 to 3 Chicken Flavor Bouillon Cubes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Pumpkin purée
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • 1/4 cup light sour cream

Directions:

HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, coriander and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavors. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until heated through.

TRANSFER mixture to blender or food processor (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until creamy. Serve warm or reheat to desired temperature. Ladle soup into bowls.

PLACE sour cream in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles onto soup. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through sour cream from center to edge of bowl.

PREPARATION TIP: Soup may be prepared the day ahead. Cool to room temperature after adding pumpkin and evaporated milk. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, blend then reheat to serving temperature, but do not boil.

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Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetiser
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 servings
 
This soup incorporates pumpkin and ginger, two healthy powerhouses. Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin A plus it's low in fat. It also adds a flavor punch to many savory dishes, from pastas to soups to casseroles.
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1½ teaspoons curry powder
  • ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 to 3 Chicken Flavor Bouillon Cubes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • ¼ cup light sour cream
Instructions
  1. HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, coriander and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavors. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until heated through.
  2. TRANSFER mixture to blender or food processor (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until creamy. Serve warm or reheat to desired temperature. Ladle soup into bowls.
  3. PLACE sour cream in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles onto soup. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through sour cream from center to edge of bowl.
  4. PREPARATION TIP: Soup may be prepared the day ahead. Cool to room temperature after adding pumpkin and evaporated milk. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, blend then reheat to serving temperature, but do not boil.
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Quick & Easy Dinners: Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Quick & Easy Dinners: Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

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Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Enchiladas mean different things to different people. To some, they mean spicy chicken or pork, topped with red chile sauce. To others, they’re tangy green chile sauce with cheese. Still others add sour cream or cream cheese, potatoes, peanuts or almonds. And to purists, enchiladas mean simple tortillas heated on a stove-top one-by-one, dipped in chile sauce, then folded once and topped with cheese and onion.

This Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe means quick, easy and scrumptious. I made them with my new boyfriend and my dad — they’ve cumulatively eaten a lot of enchiladas — and it was agreed these enchiladas were delicious (better the next day and even more so with a fried egg on top for breakfast). And don’t forget flexible! This recipe features chicken, cheddar cheese, tomato salsa and cream cheese, but make a few changes and you can please even your pickiest friends and family members. Just use any variety of salsa or enchilada sauce you like (I used tomato-raspberry-chipotle salsa; the sweet/spicy combination was addictive!) and substitute different cheeses like smoked Gouda, sharp white cheddar or queso fresco. You can also use Greek yogurt or sour cream in place of cream cheese.

Find out what enchiladas mean to you!

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients for 4 servings:

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat
  • 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups (12-ounce bottle) chunky salsa, divided
  • 1/2 of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 8 (7- or 8-inch) soft taco-size fat free or regular flour tortillas

Directions:

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray large, nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Add chicken, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup salsa and cream cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheeses are melted as shown above.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

SPOON a scant 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place in 13 x 9-inch (3-quart rectangular) baking dish as shown above.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Drizzle with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese (as shown with queso fresco above); cover. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

I served mine with fresh cilantro (shown above), a dry rosé wine, and a green salad. Salud!

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Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1½ cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat
  • ¾ cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1½ cups (12-ounce bottle) chunky salsa, divided
  • ½ of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 8 (7- or 8-inch) soft taco-size fat free or regular flour tortillas
Instructions
  1. PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray large, nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
  2. Add chicken, ½ cup cheddar cheese, ¾ cup salsa and cream cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheeses are melted as shown above.
  3. SPOON a scant ⅓ cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place in 13 x 9-inch (3-quart rectangular) baking dish as shown above.
  4. Drizzle with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese (as shown with queso fresco above); cover. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.
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Easy Spring Pasta Recipe: Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Easy Spring Pasta Recipe: Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

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Fresh pasta with local, organic spring peas, leeks and thyme for an easy, impressive dinner.

Spring has sprung in California – as well as most of the country. To me that means spring vegetable season; asparagus, leeks, peas, artichoke, fennel and fresh herbs are bountiful in farmers markets. Much of this produce is available year-round, but spring is the best time to get the freshest spring vegetables, whether at your local market, grocery store or from your own garden!

fetpeasveg

And those fresh spring flavors really come through in this easy spring pasta recipe, Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme. It’s a cinch to make and it’s packed with flavor and nutrients, plus spring is a great time to get hooked on the Mediterranean way of eating. Adding a bit of the pasta water instead of using sauce is a traditional way to make pasta dishes in Italy. This recipe is a sure way to eat more vegetables and wow your friends with your culinary savvy!

Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Recipe courtesy of Buitoni.

fetpeaingred2

Ingredients for 3 servings:

  • 1 package (9 ounces) Refrigerated Fettuccine
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh leek
  • 1/3 cup frozen peas
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed and stems discarded
  • 1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

PREPARE pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup cooking water. While pasta is cooking, prepare leek mixture.

fetpeasstove

HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden. Stir in peas; cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, as shown above.

fetpeaslast

ADD reserved pasta cooking water, thyme leaves and cheese; stir in gently. Toss pasta with leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

Wine Pairing

  • Italian wines can be hard to find, other than the super popular Pinot Grigio. If you can find a Soave wine, it’s a soft, fruity, clean wine with crisp lemon flavors and really complements this dish.
  • Grenache Blanc with its acidity and rounded flavors, or Sauvignon Blanc with its herbaceousness, would also be great wines with this pasta.

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Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme
Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2
 
Spring has sprung in California – as well as most of the country. To me that means spring vegetable season; asparagus, leeks, peas, artichoke, fennel and fresh herbs are bountiful in farmers markets. Much of this produce is available year-round, but spring is the best time to get the freshest spring vegetables, whether at your local market, grocery store or from your own garden!
Ingredients
  • 1 package Refrigerated Fettuccine (9 oz.)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup sliced fresh leek
  • ⅓ cup frozen peas
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • ¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese (5 oz.)
Instructions
  1. PREPARE pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup cooking water. While pasta is cooking, prepare leek mixture.
  2. HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden. Stir in peas; cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. ADD reserved pasta cooking water, thyme leaves and cheese; stir in gently. Toss pasta with leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
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