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TORTELLINI -PASTA delight . from Chef Steve Petusevsky.

Posted by Spyridon Gkinnis on September 23, 2009 at 1:01am
Sure, stew and pasta are traditional, hearty dishes to warmusup on a cold winter’s day. But this hearty and aromatic dishfrom Chef Steve Petusevsky is sure tomake friends and familythink you graduated froma gourmet cooking school! Thegood news is that it’s the blending of complimentary flavorsthatmakes this simple recipememorable.And, the additionof coffee as an ingredient gives this a rich, sultry flavor thatsets this pasta/vegetable/shrimp dish in a class all its own.This is perfect as a one-dish meal. But be sure to makeenough (just double the recipe), as friends and family aresure to ask for seconds!If your friends ask you how you thought of addingcoffee as an ingredient, you can proudly say you havetheir good health in mind.We now know that coffee goesfar beyond being simply a great-tasting beverage. Studiesshow it may help reduce our risk of type 2 diabetes,1 liverdisease,2 Parkinson’s3 and even certain types of cancer.3And it may even enhance short-term memory.4 Nowthat’s news to chew on!Creamy, pink, coffee-flecked tortellini provides a flavorfulbackground for crunchy broccoli florets and delicateshrimp. Cheese filled pasta is used here, but you couldsubstitute ravioli or agnolotti half moons. (Whole wheattortellini will yield an added earthy flavor.) If you prefer,you can eliminate shrimp for a vegetarian version.As you enjoy each rich, satisfying bite, you’ll realize that acozy winter lunch can be more pleasurable than you’d everthought possible!For other flavorful and healthful food creations,you may want to try other coffee recipes available at(1Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A prospective cohort study. DiabetesCare: 2006.2Influence of Coffee Drinking on Subsequent Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: AProspective Study in Japan. J Natl Cancer Inst: 2005.3Coffee and health: a review of recent human research. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr: 2006.4Influence of Caffeine Excess on Activation Patterns in VerbalWorking Memory.Radiological Society of North America: 2005.)Warm Up and Perk Up a ColdWinter’sDay with this Tempting Pasta DelightMethod:Set aside the cookedtortellini to chill whilepreparing the recipe.Heat the oil in a largenonstick sauté pan and addthe green onions, garlic andbroccoli florets. Sauté over medium heat for 1 minute,adding a sprinkle of water to prevent sticking if needed.Add the shrimp, Cajun spices, coffee and tomato paste,stirring well to lightly brown. Add the cream and stir into combine all ingredients well, forming a light pink,creamy sauce.Add the cooked tortellini to the mixture and stir well.Cook for 3 minutes until a smooth sauce is formedaround the pasta and shrimp. Season to taste with salt.9-ounce package fresh cheese-filled tortellini,cooked al dente1 tablespoon olive oil6 small green onions (scallions), minced2 cloves minced garlic1 cup small broccoli florets½ lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined2 teaspoons Cajun spice blend1 tablespoon finely ground coffee,regular or decaffeinated1 tablespoon tomato paste1 cup cream (or light cream)Salt to tasteOptional: ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan orRomano cheese for garnishTortellini with Coffee Creole Cream, Broccoli and Shrimp(makes 2-3 servings)
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