![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiPrep.jpg?resize=300%2C167\")
<\/h4>\n
Prep:<\/strong><\/p>\n Bring a large pot of salted water<\/strong> to a boil. Wash and dry produce.<\/p>\n Halve, de-seed, and thinly slice poblano<\/strong> into strips. Trim and thinly slice scallions<\/strong>, separating whites<\/strong> from greens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Cook pasta & poblano<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n Once water is boiling, add cavatappi<\/strong> to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes.<\/p>\n Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water<\/strong>, then drain.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, heat a large drizzle of oil<\/strong> in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add poblano<\/span> <\/strong>and season with salt<\/strong> and pepper<\/strong>; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 4-5 minutes.<\/p>\n Cook beef:<\/strong><\/p>\n Add a drizzle of oil<\/strong> to pan with poblano<\/span><\/strong>. Add beef<\/strong>, scallion whites<\/strong>, and Southwest Spice<\/span><\/strong>, season with salt<\/strong> and pepper<\/strong>. Cook, breaking up meat<\/strong> into pieces, until beef<\/strong> is browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes.<\/p>\n Tip: <\/strong>If there\u2019s excess grease in your pan, carefully pour it out.<\/p>\n Add tomato<\/strong> paste<\/strong>; cook, stirring occasionally, until combined, 30 seconds<\/p>\n Make sauce:<\/strong><\/p>\n Add \u00bd cup reserved pasta cooking water<\/strong> and stock<\/strong> concentrates<\/strong> to pan with beef<\/strong> mixture<\/strong>. Season with \u00bd tsp salt<\/strong> and a pinch of pepper<\/strong>. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened, 2-3 minutes.<\/p>\n Finish pasta:<\/strong><\/p>\n Reduce heat to low and stir in drained cavatappi<\/strong>, sour<\/strong> cream<\/strong>, smoky red pepper crema<\/strong>, half the Mexican<\/strong> cheese<\/strong> (you\u2019ll use the rest in the next step), 1 TBS butter<\/strong>, and hot sauce<\/strong><\/span> to taste.<\/p>\n Season with salt<\/strong> and pepper<\/strong> to taste.<\/p>\n Tip: <\/strong>If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water<\/strong> a splash at a time until pasta<\/strong> is coated in a creamy sauce<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Finish & serve:<\/strong><\/p>\n Top beef cavatappi<\/strong> with remaining Mexican<\/strong> cheese<\/strong>; cover pan until cheese<\/strong> melts, 1-2 minutes. Divide between bowls; top with scallion<\/strong> greens<\/strong> and serve.<\/p>\n Preheat oven to 400\u1d52F.<\/p>\n Roast bell pepper whole for 40 minutes, flipping after 20 minutes to evenly roast.<\/p>\n Remove bell pepper from oven. Place on plate and cover for 20 minutes to self-steam.<\/p>\n Peel, remove stem, and de-seed bell pepper.<\/p>\n Puree bell pepper flesh, sour cream, kosher salt, and smoked paprika in a blender until smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" with Poblano & Smoky Red Pepper Crema Yield: 2 Southwestern-meets-Italian inspired skillet supper with bold flavors. Twisty cavatappi, bites of flavorful ground beef, and saut\u00e9ed poblano, topped with a Mexican cheese blend, smokey red pepper crema, bright sour cream, and hot sauce for a little kick. A sprinkle of scallion greens adds a pop of color. Gayle isn’t a fan of the cavatappi (too thick), so we will normally use macaroni.Prep: 5 Cook: 35 1poblano pepper 2scallions 6oz cavatappi or…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiPoblano.jpg?resize=300%2C167\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiBeef.jpg?resize=300%2C167\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiSauce.jpg?resize=300%2C170\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiPasta-1.jpg?resize=300%2C170\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nowellfamily.org\/cookbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/05\/SouthwestBeefCavatappiServe.jpg?resize=300%2C170\")
<\/p>\nSouthwest Spice Blend<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Smoky Red Pepper Crema<\/span><\/h3>\n
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