Tag: Italian Cuisine
Turkey and Mushroom Meatballs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 5 ounces Cremini mushrooms, chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey meat
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs soaked in 1/3 cup of milk
- ½ cup burrata cheese, torn into chunks
- ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt
- 4 cups store bought or homemade marinara sauce
Heat a medium frying pan with the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on a medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the onion, garlic and thyme and a sprinkle of salt. Continue to sauté for another 4 to 5 minutes. Turn heat off and cool completely.
Add the turkey meat to a medium bowl, add the cooled mushroom mixture, both the cheeses, egg, 1 to 2 teaspoons salt and the soaked breadcrumbs. Mix well and keep the mixture aside for about an hour in the fridge for the flavors to marinate.
Heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan. Form medium sized balls from the turkey meat and gently drop into the simmering tomato sauce. Once all the meat used up, bring the sauce and meatballs to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover with lid and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with spaghetti!
Pork Ragu with Penne
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup pancetta, chopped
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup white onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- ½ cup half and half
- Salt
- ½ pound penne, al dente- ½ cup spare pasta water
- 2 tablespoons truffle paste or 1 tablespoon truffle oil
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the pancetta and sauté for 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Add the carrots, onions and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Add the pork and separate with the back of a wooden spatula while sautéing the meat on medium high heat about 2-3 minutes. Add the beef broth and cook on medium low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, till a thick sauce is formed. Add salt and half and half. Add the truffle paste or oil. Mix well and add the cooked pasta and pasta water. Check for seasonings and serve.
Herbed Ricotta and Potato Gnocchi
- 1 one pound russet potato
- ½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1 egg, beaten
- ½ cup freshly ground Pecorino Romano
- 1 cup plus more flour
Cook the potato till soft to the fork. Take the skin off and put the potato through a potato ricer into a bowl. Add the ricotta cheese, salt, pepper, nutmeg, thyme, chives, egg and cheese. Mix well. Gradually add the flour, one tablespoon at a time till the dough comes together and not sticky- try not to over knead the dough. Separate into four sections and roll each into ½ inch thick logs on a floured surface. With a knife, cut bite-sized gnocchis. Place on a floured cookie sheet and let sit for an hour. Make the sauce in the meantime.
Marinara Sauce
- 1 can San Marzano tomatoes (chopped or whole, if whole, crush them with fingers)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper as necessary.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi for 2 to 3 minutes or till they float to the surface. Serve with marinara sauce and freshly grated cheese
Wild Mushroom Risotto with Sauteed Scallops
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 10oz pack of cremini mushroom, sliced
- ¼ pound shitaki mushrooms, sliced
- 3 to 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Salt
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- ½ cup a dry white wine
- 4 cups chicken or mushroom broth, heated in a saucepan
- ¼ cup half and half
- ½ cup shredded pecorino romano
- 2 teaspoons white truffle paste
Heat a large frying pan with the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and thyme sprigs. Saute on medium high heat for 7 to 8 minutes or till the mushrooms begin to wilt and the moisture begins to cook away. Add one teaspoon salt and mix well. Add the Arborio rice and sauté for a minute. Add the wine and mix well on medium heat till the liquid dissipates. Add a large ladle of chicken broth and repeat the process till all the broth is used and the rice is cooked al dente and creamy. The process should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Finish the risotto with half and half, pecorino cheese and the white truffle paste. Mix well and taste for seasonings. Serve with scallops on top.
- 1 pound large scallops, about 11 to 12
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Heat a large non-stick frying pan. Add the olive oil and add the scallops. Saute 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Drizzle the lemon juice. Serve on top of risotto.
Cauliflower and Sausage Pasta with Pesto
- 1 cauliflower head, cut into florets
- Olive oil
- Salt
- 2 to 3 sausage, crumbled
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
- ½ pound cooked pasta with 1 cup pasta water spared
Transfer the cauliflower florets to a lined cookie sheet. Drizzle salt and olive oil. Roast under a hot broiler till all sides are golden brown- about 10 minutes on each side. Take out and keep aside.
Pesto
- 1 full cup fresh basil
- 1 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup pistachios
- 2 anchovy fillets
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
- Juice of half a lemon
- Salt
Add the garlic and pistachios to a food processor. Pulse till chopped. Add the basil, anchovy fillets, start pulsing and drizzle the olive oil and proxess till a smooth sauce is formed. Take out of the processor, add the cheese, lemon juice and salt to taste. Keep aside.
Heat a wide frying pan and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the crumbled sausage and sauté on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt and sauté for another 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and ½ cup of the pasta water. Add the pesto, mix well and check for seasonings. Add more pasta water if necessary. Serve warm.
Roasted Pesto Chicken with Potatoes and Cauliflower
- 4 full chicken legs (skin off)
- 1 pound small yellow potatoes (skin off)
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- ½ cup fresh or store bought pesto
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Preheat a 350 degrees F.
Line a large baking pan with aluminum foil.
Place the cauliflower florets and potatoes to the bottom of the pan. Add half of the pesto, salt, pepper and one tablespoon of the olive oil. Mix well with your fingers. Place the chicken pieces on top of the vegetables. Add the rest of the pesto and olive oil. Rub all over the chicken. Add salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for an hour. Change the setting to high broil and brown for 5 to 10 minutes till the chicken and the potatoes turn golden brown. Serve with crusty bread.
Fettuccine with Scallops and Garlic
I served this delicious pasta dish with some yummy asparagus, simply cooked with some olive oil and salt… very springy!!
- ½ pound fresh fettuccine
- Salt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 10 large scallops, cleaned
- ½ cup clam juice
- Juice and zest of one lemon
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package label and reserve ½ cup cooking water, then drain and keep aside.
In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the scallops on both sides about 30 seconds each. Take out and keep aside, let cool and slice each scallop into 3 to 4 slices. Reheat the pan on medium heat and add the garlic, red pepper flakes and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook for about a minute. Add the clam juice, lemon zest and juice. Add the pasta and the pasta water. Add the scallops and parsley, toss to coat and cook for another minute or two until the scallops have warmed through. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil before serving.