Best 6 Pasta Al Fresco Recipes

PICNIC PASTA

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, vinegar and honey in a large bowl. Stir in the cornichons, herbs, capers, celery and fennel until combined. Add the pasta and salt and toss until well coated.

PASTA FRESCA

Steps:

• Assign 1 guest to pit the olives and another to dice the tomatoes.
• Bring 12 cups of water and 1 teaspoons of salt to a boil in a large pot.
• At the same time, in another large pot over medium-high heat, add 1/4 cup olive oil along with the garlic, shallots, and walnuts. Stir occasionally for 6 minutes, or until they just begin turning golden.
• Add the basil and stir for 30 seconds (to release their flavors).
• Add tomatoes, olives, remaining salt, pepper, chile pepper, and remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add yellow cherry tomatoes at the end.
• While sauce is simmering, add pasta to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions.
• Warm the second loaf of bread in a preheated 325 degrees F oven.
• Drain pasta. Add pasta to sauce in pot. Toss thoroughly. Put pasta pot directly on the table, or transfer to a large pre-warmed serving bowl.
• Serve with Parmesan. Don't forget the bread in the oven!

SPICY SOUTHERN SHRIMP AND PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add the shrimp, corn, okra, salt, and Cajun seasoning. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the shrimp are almost opaque. Add the tomato sauce and cream cheese and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the sauce is smooth.
• Place the pasta in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour the shrimp mixture over the pasta and stir well.
• Return the skillet to the heat and melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add the bread crumbs and stir until well coated.
• Top the casserole with the bread crumbs and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

EASY PASTA ALFREDO

Steps:

• Cook tortellini according to package directions. Meanwhile in a small saucepan, combine cream and nutmeg. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat in butter until heated through (do not boil). Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. , Drain pasta; transfer to a large serving bowl. Add cheese sauce; toss to coat.

PASTA AL FORNO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add onions and cook slowly until moisture has evaporated but onions are not dark brown, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and bacon. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until meat is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Pour wine into the skillet and cook until evaporated, 1 to 3 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Fill tomato paste can with water and pour in. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook sauce, uncovered, until oil no longer appears on the surface, about 30 minutes. Add sugar and salt; cook and stir until dissolved, about 3 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta at a boil for about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water. Return pasta to the pot and add a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x13-inch baking dishes.
• Add about 1 cup sauce and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese to the pot with the cooked pasta.
• Spoon a thin layer of pasta into each prepared baking dish. Top each with a thin layer of provolone and mozzarella cheeses. Add sauce. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, cheeses, and sauce; finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot and melted, 30 to 45 minutes.

PASTA AL POMODORO FRESCO

Steps:

• Boil the pasta in salted water according to package direction until al dente.
• In the meantime, in a large skillet, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic slices and cook them at medium heat stirring often just until lightly golden. Next, add the cut tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes at medium high heat. Stir the sauce gently a few times. The sauce should not be soupy.
• Before removing the sauce from the heat, taste it for flavor. When the sauce is ready, add the fresh chopped basil, turn off the heat and stir one last time.
• Transfer the cooked strained pasta in the skillet, and toss gently making sure that the pasta is fully ncorporated with the sauce.
• When serving the pasta, for a delicious fragrant finishing touch, drizzle extra virgin olive oil, and add more fresh basil, fresh cracked pepper and fresh grated cheese on top of each plate.