Saffron penne: a vibrant pasta dish, with a smooth and velvety texture.

This is a very simple and quick recipe to prepare.

PREPARATION TIME      10 min

COOKING TIME             25 min

SERVINGS                      4

TOTAL TIME                  35 min

INGREDIENTS

•  pasta 400 gr=2 cups (or less if you’re used to eat less)in this case we serve cavatappi shaped pasta

• grated parmigiano 40 gr. = ¾ US Cup

• 2 sachets of powdered saffron

• ricotta or other spreadable cheese, also lactose free cheese 50 gr.= 1/5 US Cup

• 1 small white onion or 1 shallot

• extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp

• parsley 1 handful

• black pepper to taste

• fine salt to taste

Penne with Saffron is a creamy and fresh dish with bright and lively colors.

Saffron is one of the most loved and used spices in the kitchen, its golden color gives every dish an unmistakable aroma and flavor. Just remember that saffron should always be added at the end of cooking, otherwise its fragrance will decrease.

As an alternative to powdered saffron you can always use stigmas. In this case the stigmas should be left to soak in a cup of hot broth for 30-40 minutes and then added to the preparation with all the liquid.

Preparation

Cook the pasta in boiling salted water.

Chop the onion thinly.

Chop the parsley separately.

Pour a tbsp. EVOO in a pan.

On a low heat,when the oil is hot, add the onion.

When the onion becomes translucent, add the ricotta. Melt the cheese and add a spoonful of the pasta cooking water.

Add the saffron, salt, pepper.

Drain the pasta and mix it in the pan with the sauce.

Add the parmigiano and chopped parsley.

Serve immediately.

Tips: To enrich the dish, you can add peas or asparagus

We’ve chosen this dish so the yellow color of the dish is dedicated to the International Women day .Instead of wasting mimosas, we prefer to enjoy the  bright color, clean and refreshing taste .

Best wishes ladies.

And if you like saffron,zafferano in Italian, have a look at

Home Made Panna Cotta

Saffron and Ricotta Cake