Best Penne Pecorino Recipes

PENNE PECORINO

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the penne according to package directions in lightly salted water. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
• Increase the heat under the skillet to medium-high and stir the cooked penne and reserved pasta water into the skillet. Let the sauce simmer and reduce until it thickens, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated cheese until partially melted.
• Top with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

PENNE WITH PEA PESTO, SUGAR SNAP PEAS, AND PECORINO

Steps:

• For the pea pesto: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the peas and blanch for 30 seconds, or a little longer if the peas are large. Drain and cool quickly in ice water, then drain again. Place the peas in a food processor with the garlic, mint, pecorino, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until well chopped. With the motor running, add the olive oil through the feed tube. Puree until the pesto is nearly but not completely smooth. A slightly coarse texture is pleasing.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the English peas and a pinch of salt. Sauté for about 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup of the boiling pasta water. Simmer until the peas are almost tender, about 5 minutes, adding more hot pasta water if necessary. Add the sugar snap peas and sauté until they lose their raw taste, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Set aside about 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta. Return it to the hot pot and add the braised peas, pea pesto, and several grinds of black pepper. Toss well, moistening with some of the reserved pasta water. Divide among 6 warm bowls. Top each portion with a little grated pecorino. Serve immediately.
• Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay or another medium- to full-bodied white wine.

PENNE CARBONARA WITH FAVA BEANS, PEAS AND PECORINO

Steps:

• First, find a willing assistant to help peel the favas. Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Add the peeled favas and blanch for about 1 minute, then scoop them out (reserving the water) and put them into a bowl of cold water. Drain and slip them out of their whitish skins to reveal the emerald-green bean.
• Bring the water back to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the penne, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together the egg yolks, pecorino and a little salt and pepper.
• When the pasta is almost done (about 2 minutes less than the time suggested on the package), add the favas and peas to the pot. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the pasta is al dente.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain the penne and vegetables, and return them to the pot. Add the butter and stir well. Add the egg yolk mixture and chives, tossing gently and adding a few tablespoons of the cooking water to form a silky sauce that clings to the penne. Adjust the seasoning, and serve with a wedge of pecorino for grating.

PENNE WITH BROCCOLI RABE, WALNUTS, AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and sauté until golden and soft, about 5 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and sauté, tossing with tongs, until slightly softened and bright green, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir 1 minute. Stir in broth, crme frache, and lemon peel, then 1/3 cup cheese.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Stir in broccoli rabe mixture and walnuts, adding 1/2 cup cooking liquid to moisten and adding more by tablespoonfuls if needed. Divide pasta among bowls. Serve, passing remaining cheese separately.
• *An Italian leafy green vegetable with scattered clusters of tiny, broccoli-like florets; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

PENNE WITH GRILLED PORTABELLAS AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (high heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure .
• Brush mushroom caps with vegetable oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
• Oil grill rack, then grill mushrooms, stemmed sides down, covered only if using a gas grill, 5 minutes. Turn mushrooms over and grill until tender, about 3 minutes more. Cool slightly and slice.
• Cook penne in a pasta pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 3 tablespoon cooking water, then drain pasta.
• Toss pasta with reserved cooking water, mushrooms, Pecorino, marjoram, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

PENNE WITH PANCETTA, PECORINO, AND BLACK PEPPER

Steps:

• 1 In a skillet large enough to hold all of the cooked pasta, heat the lard or olive oil over medium heat. Add the guanciale or pancetta, and cook, stirring frequently, 10 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. 2 Bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tablespoons of salt, then the pasta. Stir well. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente, tender yet still firm to the bite. Set aside some of the cooking water. Drain the pasta. 3 Pour the pasta into the skillet and toss it with the cheese, pepper, and a couple of tablespoons of the water until the pasta is well coated. Serve immediately with more pepper, if desired. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.