New Buitoni Stuffed Pasta Flavors + 2 Rockin’ Sauce Recipes!

Posted by artfulgourmet on Jul 11, 2012 in Comfort Food, Entrees, Food Reviews, Italian, Italian Dishes, Italian Food, One-Pot Dishes, Pasta, Product Reviews, Savory Dishes, Uncategorized, Veggies | 12 comments

Buitoni New Pasta Flavors

There’s some new kids on the block – and some mighty tasty ones at that. Buitoni reached out to me and asked me to create some recipes to go with their two new stuffed pasta flavors which are totally rockin’!

The Roasted Butternut Squash Agnolotti is a luscious half-moon pasta generously filled with oven-roasted Butternut Squash, Impastata Ricotta, aged Parmesan and Grada Padano cheeses, accented with amaretti cookie crumbs. I decided to create a luscious sauce with Brown Butter, Sage, Pancetta, Shallots, and Toasted Pine Nuts.

The savory Chicken Marsala Ravioli is a delicate pasta filled with all-natural white meat chicken, roasted portabello mushrooms and caramelized onions with Impastata Ricotta, aged Parmesan and Asiago cheeses, accented with Marsala wine. To compliment the savory chicken and mushroom flavors inside, I created a Wild Mushrooms, Leeks, and Thyme in a Garlic, Wine and Cream Sauce to go with.

The fresh pasta cooks super fast (approximately 5-6 minutes) so you’ll want to get your sauce going first before you cook the pasta, or you can cook the pasta first and set it aside until you add it to the sauce at the end to coat.

I recommend a dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or or a dry Rose to go with the Butternut Squash Agnolotti, and a light red table wine such as Montepulcciano d’Abruzzo or Pinot Noir to accompany the Chicken Marsala Ravioli. Serve both with a side of toasty garlic bread and a simple Arugula or Romaine salad with some shaved Parmesan cheese a light lemon vinaigrette dressing (a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, two teaspoons of Dijon or grainy mustard, a squeeze or two of lemon and salt and pepper)

 ***GIVEAWAY: I’m also giving away coupons for a free package of any flavored pasta or sauce of your choice (compliments of Buitoni) to the first ten people to leave a comment on this post (good for one package). Be sure to include your email when you comment (not public) so I can contact you to send the coupons. The giveaway ends at midnight on Sunday July 22nd. 

Enjoy the recipes I’ve created for this delicious new pasta, and good luck with the giveaway!

Roasted Butternut Squash Agnolotti w/ Brown Butter, Sage, Pancetta, Shallots and Toasted Pine Nuts

Chicken Marsala Ravioli with Wild Mushrooms, Leeks, Thyme in a Garlic Wine Cream Sauce

Check out more of Buitoni’s awesome pastas and sauces on their website

Follow Buitoni on Twitter @Buitoni

Become a fan of Buitoni on Facebook for special offers, news and giveaways

Get more great recipes for Buitoni on Pinterest

*This is a sponsored post by Buitoni. All recipes, recommendations and opinions are my own.

Tamarind Shrimp Soba Noodles

Posted by artfulgourmet on May 15, 2012 in Asian Food, Chinese Recipes, Comfort Food, Ethnic Recipes, Grilled Recipes, Healthy Cooking, One-Pot Dishes, Pasta, Savory Dishes, Seafood, Seafood Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Uncategorized | 4 comments

Tamarind Shrimp Soba Noodles

This is a typical Asian dish with warm, smooth and bright flavors. Soba noodles are typical Japanese noodles made of buckwheat and wheat flours (you can find soba and most of the ingredients in this recipe in any Asian store, Kaluystan’s in NYC, Whole Foods or online).

The velvety flavorful sauce is semi-sweet and made with tamarind concentrate and coconut milk, infused with bright tangy Asian flavors – lime, red Thai chili, crispy shallots, mint and fennel seed. The shrimp are grilled to perfection (you can also sauté them if desired), then tossed with the Soba noodles and sauce to make a light, refreshing dish for Springtime. Garnish with cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews or diced mango for some extra layers of flavor.

Ingredients

2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sesame oil
36 shrimp, cleaned and deveined
½ cup tamarind concentrate (or use paste dissolved in coconut milk, strained)
1 cup coconut milk
4 Keffir lime leaves (or 1 tablespoon lime zest)
1 red Thai chile, diced
¼ cup mint leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 teaspoon fennel seed, ground
½ cup rice vinegar

½ pound buckwheat soba noodles
3 tablespoons sesame oil

Garnishes: chopped cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews, diced mango

Preparation

Heat a 6-inch sauté pan over a medium heat and add the oil and shallots. Cook the shallots until golden brown and slightly crisp. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Shrimp Tamarind Mixture

In a small bowl, mix the tamarind concentrate and coconut milk. Add the shrimp, lime leaves or zest, chili, mint, garlic, fennel seed, rice vinegar and crispy shallots together and let marinate for at least 1 hour up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.

Tamarind Coconut Sauce

Remove the shrimp from the marinade and reserve the marinade.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, and add the soba noodles. Immediately add a cup of cold water to the pot. When it comes back to a boil, drain the noodles. (You can also sauté the noodles in some sesame oil after boiling and draining them, over high heat to crisp them on the bottom before serving).

Shrimp on Grill

Heat a 10-inch sauté pan or a grill over high heat, cook shrimp for 6 minutes.

Grilled Shrimp

Pour the marinade into a 2-cup sauce pan and bring to a boil, and reduce until thickened. Return the reduced marinade to the shrimp and divide the noodles among plates (or a large serving platter for the table), and serve the shrimp with sauce over the warm noodles.

Garnish with desired toppings: cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews, cubed mango.

Serves 6.

Adapted from recipe by Richard Ruben, Techniques of Healthy Cooking, Institute of Culinary Education.

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Similar recipes you may enjoy:

Epicurious Coconut Shrimp with Tamarind Ginger Sauce

Chipotle and Tamarind-Glazed Shrimp

Soba Noodles in Sesame Ginger Sauce with Grilled Veggies

Camille Cooks Sauteed Shrimp with Tamarind and Soba Noodles

A Sinfully Delicious Valentine’s Day Dinner

Posted by artfulgourmet on Feb 13, 2012 in Baking, Beef, Comfort Food, Desserts, Dressings/Marinades, Entrees, French Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Potatoes, Salads, Sauces, Savory Dishes, Special Occasion, Uncategorized, Winter Recipes | 0 comments

It’s that time of year again when love is in the air and we’re looking for a romantic dinner to make at home for Valentine’s Day. This is a luscious dinner menu that will surely impress your loved one – it’s fairly easy and quick to make too. After all, who wants to be slaving away in the kitchen when your sweetie’s in the other room?  You’ll love this savory steak recipe – sauteed and served with a cognac, cream and mustard sauce with a side of roasted garlic and roasted potatoes with garlic and herbs. The mixed greens salad is topped with a creamy shallot vinaigrette dressing and for dessert I’ve included a recipe for a sinfully delicious Chocolate Souffle with Grand Marnier, which can also be made with a splash of dark rum or raspberry Frambois liqueur. Who needs to go out in the cold when you can make a yummy dinner at home? Simply LOVE-LY.

Steak with Cognac Mustard Cream Sauce

Sauteed Steak with Cognac Mustard Cream 

Two 3/4 lb steaks (3/4 inch thick) – Delmonico, T-bone, Porterhouse, Sirloin, Strip
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
4 tbsp cognac
4 tbsp heavy cream
1 1/2 tbsp plus 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Cut excess fat from the steaks and make small incisions around the outside where there is gristle to prevent steaks from curling.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, and season steak on both sides with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, add the steaks and saute 2-3 minutes per side (rare) or 4 minutes per side (medium) and remove steaks to a platter, tenting with foil to keep warm.

Remove pan from the heat and discard any fat. Add the cognac, stirring with the juices and scraping brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

Return the pan to high heat and reduce the pan juices and cognac by half, about 3-5 minutes. Add the cream and continue to boil sauce until reduced by half again, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the mustard and remove from the heat. Slice the steak and pour the mustard cream sauce over the steak. Serve with roasted potatoes, garlic and mixed greens salad. A hearty bold red would be delicious to sip along with it!!

Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

8-10 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold, Fingerlings or New Potatoes)
2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2-3 tbsp chopped herbs (parsley, chervil, tarragon, chives or rosemary)
Kosher salt

Cut potatoes in quarters or eighths and drizzle them with olive oil. Sprinkle them with chopped garlic and herbs and some kosher salt. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown about 45 minutes.

Roasted Garlic

Roasted Garlic

1-2 heads of garlic
1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt

If you want to roast some garlic along with the steak and potatoes, simply chop up the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle some salt over them. Wrap in aluminum foil and roast until soft, about 40 minutes. Squeeze the garlic from the skin and mix in with the roasted potatoes and sauteed steak (or rub over toasted crusty French bread as a creamy garlic topping – YUM!)

Mixed Greens Salad

Mixed Greens with Creamy Shallot Vinaigrette

1 egg yolk
2 tbsp wine vinegar (red, white or champagne)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp minced shallots
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
4-6 cups mixed greens (arugula, endive, escarole or chicory)

In a small bowl, beat 1 egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and minced shallot. Add olive oil in a slow and steady stream to the mixture and blend well with a whisk to emulsify into a vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add some fresh chopped herbs to the dressing if desired.

Note: Vinaigrette can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container. Makes 8 servings.

Chocolate Souffle

Chocolate Souffle

7 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 tbsp Grand Marnier (can substitute Raspberry Framboise liqueur or Dark Rum)
4 egg yolks
1/4 c sugar
8 egg whites, room temp

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 6 individual souffle molds and coat with sugar.

Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan and remove from the heat. Place chocolate and liqueur in a heatproof bowl and set it on top of the saucepan. Stir occassionally to melt the chocolate evenly. When the chocolate has melted, remove the pan and cool the chocolate mixture to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, beat the yolks to break up and add 2 tablespoons of the sugar gradually, and beat until the ribbon is formed. Add to the chocolate and blend. (Reserve some of the chocolate sauce for pouring into the center before serving).

Beat the egg whites with a whisk, adding the remaining sugar by tablespoons, to the stiff peak stage. Fold into the chocolate mixture and fill the molds 2/3 of the way full.

Place the molds on a baking sheet and bake until well puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Crack the centers of the souffles and pour additional chocolate sauce into the center. Serve immediately while still warm.

Makes 6 servings.

Recipes from the Institute of Culinary Education, Techniques of Fine Cooking.

Wine-Braised Chicken with Shallots, Fennel, Carrots and Pancetta

Posted by artfulgourmet on Jan 19, 2012 in Chicken, Comfort Food, Entrees, Fall Recipes, One-Pot Dishes, Savory Dishes, Slow Cooked/Stews, Special Occasion, Uncategorized, Veggies, Winter Recipes | 2 comments

This lovely braised dish is the perfect remedy for a cold Winter evening, slow cooked and full of goodness. The recipe calls for chicken thighs which are braised in white wine, and chock full of healthy veggies such as fennel, shallots, carrots, garlic and thyme. Add some crunchy fried pancetta to the mix and you’ve got an amazing twist on the classic Coq au Vin recipe, which is normally made with the addition of mushrooms, red wine or brandy. Top off the dish with the savory pan sauce, lemon zest and some fresh parsley and fines herbes and you’ve got yourself a hearty dinner that is sure to please a crowd for a dinner party or just you and your significant other when you’re tucked away from the cold. Serve with a crisp white wine (such as Dry Reisling, which is used in this recipe) and some crusty garlic bread. YUM!

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 lbs)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
7 oz. pancetta, diced (1 heaping cup)
8 medium shallots, lobes separated and halved
4 medium carrots, cut into 3/4 inch thick slices
1 small bulb fennel, cored, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch dice
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 springs fresh flat leaf parsley
4 springs fresh thyme
1-2 bay leaves
2 cups dry fruity wine, Alsatian or German dry Reisling
2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
1 cup water mixed with 1 tbsp Knorr’s Chicken Flavor Base
2 tbsp thickening flour
1/4 tsp finely grated lemon zest, for pan sauce
dash of fennel fronds, for pan sauce
dash of chopped thyme, for pan sauce
1 tbsp dried fines herbes (tarragon, chives, parsley, chervil)
1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Preparation

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and place rack in bottom third of oven, tall enough to fit a large Dutch oven.

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a 7-8 quart Dutch oven over medium high heat. Season the chicken with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Arrange the chicken slices skin side down in the pot in a single layer and sear, flipping once until golden brown all over, about 10-13 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Meanwhile, chop the pancetta into a dice and the vegetables for browning.

Cook the pancetta in the pot until well browned all over, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off and discard the fat, reserving 1 tablespoon.

Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in the pot over medium-high heat. Cook the shallots, carrots, and fennel, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until its aroma subsides, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Tie the parsley sprigs, thyme, and bay leaves together in a small cheesecloth sachet and add the herb bundle to the pot, along with the wine.

Simmer briskly, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen the brown bits.

Add the chicken broth to the pot and stir for a few minutes, allowing the herb essence to infuse the broth.

Return the chicken and pancetta to the pot, arranging the chicken in a single layer. Bring to a simmer and cover, transfer to the oven.

Braise the chicken until the meat is fork-tender and just starting to come away from the bone, 30-45 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter or large dish with a slotted spoon and tent with foil.

Add 2 tablespoons of flour to the sauce in the pot, whisking to dissolve, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce sauce to approximately 2 cups about 15 minutes, until thickened.

Stir in the lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Throw in a few fennel fronds and chopped thyme leaves and stir. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve sprinkled with the chopped parsley and fines herbes. Serve with a glass of crisp, dry white wine and some crusty garlic bread to mop up the sauce. ENJOY.

Serves 4.

Recipe adapted from Fine Cooking One-Pot Meals, Fall 2011.

Smokin’ Chipotle Homestyle Meatloaf

Posted by theartfulgourmet on Sep 21, 2011 in Beef, Comfort Food, Fall Recipes, Uncategorized | 2 comments

Fall is finally here – the time of year when sweaters and jeans come out of the closet. Cooler mornings and evenings are a nice break from the Summer heat. And most of all, my craving for some homey comfort food is on the rise! When I think of classic comfort foods, Meatloaf is one of those meals that comes to mind. It reminds me of when I was a kid, when my Mom used to make it for dinner on a chilly night.

To spice things up a little bit, this recipe has a delicious smoky Chipotle glaze, with shallots and garlic, giving it a nice kick and a unique flavor. It goes great with a side of mashed potatoes and buttery corn or some roasted baby potatoes and root vegetables. You can make the glaze ahead of time, and even make a little extra to use as a barbeque glaze on chicken, beef or pork dishes. You might even want to experiment with a mixture of ground veal, pork and beef to give it more flavor – but this recipe works with ground beef because the Chipotle sauce gives it such a great flavor. Great with a dash of hot sauce too if you like it spicier!

Ingredients

Glaze:

¼ c Chipotle Sauce (Tavern on the Green)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ketchup
2 tbsp light brown sugar

Meatloaf:

2 lbs ground beef
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
2 large eggs, whisked
1 tsp ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 c breadcrumbs or ground whole wheat cereal (Chex or Fiber One)
1 1/2 tsp Paula Deen House seasoning (salt, pepper, onion, garlic powder)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Preheat a small sauté pan over medium heat.

In a small bowl, mix together glaze ingredients and set aside.

Chop shallots and garlic. Melt 2 tbsp butter in sauté pan. Cook shallots for about 5 minutes until lightly golden brown and soft. Lower sauté pan heat to low, add chopped garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce,  breadcrumbs (or cereal), Paula Deen House seasoning; add onions and garlic. Mix well and place mixture in a baking pan coated with cooking spray, forming a loaf. (You can also place the mixture in a loaf pan if you want a perfect rectangular shaped meatloaf).

Brush glaze over meatloaf and cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush additional glaze over meatloaf; cook another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let meatloaf rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve. Add additional glaze on top before serving if desired.

Serves 8.

Other Meatloaf Recipes you may enjoy:

Aretha Franklin’s Holiday Meatloaf
Alton Brown’s Good Eats Meatloaf
Recipe Girl’s Turkey Meatloaf
Simply Recipes Classic Meatloaf
Kalyn’s Kitchen Best Meatloaf Recipe
Bobby Flay’s Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf with Balsamic Glaze