Best Winter Herb Pasta Recipes

Pumpkin Pasta with Winter Herbs and Parmesan Cheese image

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Time 40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Kosher salt
1 pound fusilli pasta
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 sprigs fresh sage
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 to 2 cloves garlic, sliced
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. The pasta water should taste like sea water. Add the pasta to the pot and stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom as it cooks. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve some of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta in a colander and hold it there until the sauce is finished.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the sage sprigs and cook until crispy but not browned, about 1 minute. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Fry the rosemary sprigs in the same hot oil until crispy but not browned, about 1 minute. Transfer to the same plate. Sprinkle the fried herbs with salt. Remove the leaves from the stems (discard the stems). Discard the oil or save for another use.
Return the skillet to medium heat and melt and cook 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of butter until it starts to turn light brown. Add the ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the pumpkin, sugar and some of the reserved pasta water. Stir in about 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and warm gently, tossing to coat the pasta with the sauce. Stir in some of the fried sage and rosemary. Top with the remaining Parmesan and fried herbs.

Winter Herb and Ricotta Cannelloni image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Number Of Ingredients 9

Coarse salt
Fresh Egg Pasta Sheets
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pasta
15 ounces fresh ricotta cheese (1 2/3 cups)
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped mixed fresh herbs (such as rosemary, sage, and parsley)
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Parmesan Cream

Steps:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Working in batches, cook pasta sheets for about 2 minutes. Immediately transfer to ice-water bath to cool. Remove from water, rub a drop of oil on each sheet, and stack on a plate.
Combine 1 teaspoon salt, the ricotta, garlic, herbs, red-pepper flakes, and pepper in a medium bowl.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread oil in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Line up pasta sheets lengthwise on a clean, dry work surface. Spread cup ricotta mixture on each sheet, about 1 inch from bottom. Roll up, overlapping ends to close. Arrange, seam sides down, in rows in baking dish.
Immediately pour Parmesan cream over cannelloni. Bake until tops are golden brown and slightly crusty, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm.

Pasta With Creamy Herb Sauce image

Provided by Ali Slagle

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 sage leaves
3 sprigs thyme or oregano
1 small rosemary sprig
1 cinnamon stick (or a grating of nutmeg)
Black pepper
1 pound linguine, fettuccine or another long noodle
1 bunch dark leafy greens, such as kale, mustard greens, broccoli rabe or mature spinach, stems removed and cut or torn into 2- to 3-inch pieces

Steps:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, sage, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium and cook until the cream has thickened slightly and is reduced to about 1 cup, 12 to 15 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer. Remove from heat until the pasta's ready.
When the cream is at the halfway point, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until a minute or 2 shy of al dente. About 3 minutes before draining the pasta, add the greens to the water. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta and greens with a colander and return to the pot.
Place the just-used colander over the pot of pasta, then strain the infused cream through the colander into the noodles. (Discard or compost the herbs and cinnamon stick.) Add the 1/2 cup pasta water to the pasta, set over medium-high heat, and cook, tossing, until the sauce glosses the noodles, 3 to 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.