Love Bites Zesty Zuchinni Penne

This recipe was inspired by a pasta dish I had at Carluccio's an Italian chain restaurant here in the UK. The dish was so simple but tasted so fabulous that I had to attempt to re-create it Love Bites style. 

Super quick for a lunch dish or light dinner but a sure winner every time. 

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

Enough fresh or dried penne pasta for two people (whole wheat is good
1 grated zucchini
1 small fresh chilli deseeded and finely chopped
Zest and juice of one lemon
2 cloves garlic crushed
Fresh spinach leaves 
Parmesan and good quality olive oil to garnish

METHOD:

• Cook the penne as per packet instructions 
• Heat a lug of frying oil in a pan over a low to medium heat 
• Sauté the garlic and chilli and add grated zucchini cook for a further few minutes
• Once pasta is cooked drain then add the zucchini mixture to the pasta (Tip: hold on to a bit of the pasta water to nourish the pasta sauce) 
• Add in lemon juice, zest and spinach and stir to combine
• Serve into dishes and sprinkle over the parmesan and garnish with an extra lug of the good quality oil

LoveBites Summer Spaghetti

This recipe is an inspiration from a favourite Brit chef of mine Jamie Oliver.  The oily lemon and parmesan sauce recipe is a keeper for any type of pasta but works particularly well with spaghetti, linguine or fettuccine. For this recipe version I have added a few of my favourite Italian condiments to the pasta - prosciutto, rocket, and parmesan and so, I give you my Summer Spaghetti...

Ingredients

Lemon / Parmesan Sauce

• 1 large handful of spaghetti (fresh or dried) per person
• zest of one lemon, juice of 2
• 2-4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Fillings

• 6 slices of prosciutto or parma ham
• 1 red chilli deseeded, and 2 cloves of garlic chopped finely together
• 1 cup sliced button mushrooms
• 4 spring onions sliced thinly
• grated parmesan cheese to garnish
• 10 approx cherry tomatoes halved
• rocket to serve.

To Make

• Cook pasta as per packet instructions
• Zest and juice the lemons
• Beat the lemon zest, olive oil and lemon juice together until the liquid thickens. Add the parmesan and beat until the sauce turns creamy, set aside
• Once the pasta is cooked,remove from the heat and drain thoroughly, return to the pot
• Saute the mushrooms, garlic, chilli, and spring onions in a saucepan until soft (do not burn)
• Rip in the prosciutto in small pieces and stir fry over a low heat for 2 minutes, remove from heat
• Stir the lemon sauce mixture into the pasta
• Add the mushroom mixture
• Serve pasta on top of a handful of rocket and top with cherry tomatoes and parmesan.

LoveBites Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta Salad

 This recipe is quick, easy and delicious,

really good if you are in an after work panic!

As always another option is to have it without the spinach leaves,

or make it richer by stirring in some warm cream.

INGREDIENTS 

• 500g dried pasta (of your choice)
• 1/2 punnet of basil pesto or basil pesto dip
• juice of one lemon (to taste)
• 100-200g of smoked salmon pieces or strips
• 1-2tbspns of capers
• 1 small red onion diced
• a large handful of baby spinach leaves per person
• sea salt, black pepper and parmesan to garnish

TO MAKE

§  Cook the pasta as per the instructions on the packet

§  Once cooked, drain thoroughly and return to the saucepan

§  Stir through the pesto (or pesto dip) till pasta is coated through

§  Break up the smoked salmon into bite sized pieces and stir through the pasta mixture

§  Add capers and lemon juice and onion

§  Season with salt, pepper and parmesan and serve over a bed of baby spinach.