PASTA WITH RADICCHIO, BACON, AND SPINACH/STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Pasta with Radicchio, Bacon, and Spinach/Steamed Artichokes image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 head garlic
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pound bacon
1/4 pound dry Sopresatta sausage
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound pasta (any style)
3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup sliced basil
1/2 head radicchio
1/2 can garbonzo beans (or chickpeas)
1/2 cup Parmesan
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 steamed artichokes
1 pinch saffron
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
2 teaspoons water
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup mayonnaise

Steps:

Cut off top of garlic head, wrap in foil and put in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20minutes. Saute onion, bacon, garlic and sopresatta. Add chicken stock, olive oil and roasted garlic squeezed out of shell. Cook pasta aldente and add to sauce. Add spinach, basil, radicchio, garbonzo beans, Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste.
Artichoke Dip In blender put saffron, cayenne, garlic, bell pepper, 2 teaspoons water, salt and lemon juice and puree. Add mayonnaise. Serve as a dip for steamed artichokes.