Tag Archives: pancetta

PAPPARDELLE alla LEPRE

by carlina

pappardelle-lepre.jpg

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small bunch parsley leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces pancetta, cubed
Boned leg meat of 1 rabbit cut into strips
Leaves of 2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup hot chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/4 pounds pappardelle
1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

Preparation:

Melt the chopped onion, celery, garlic, and parsley in the olive oil, add the pancetta, and cook for a few minutes. Add the rabbit pieces and the thyme and cook until the rabbit is browned on all sides.

Sprinkle the flour over the rabbit, mix well, cook for another minute, and add the wine, mixing well. Allow the wine to evaporate and add the chicken stock.

Cover and cook over a low flame for about an hour, until the meat is cooked throughout, and the sauce is a nice thick consistency. Add salt and lots of freshly ground pepper.

Cook the pappardelle in a big pan of boiling salted water. Drain, pour the sauce over the pasta and mix in half of the Parmesan. Serve with the remaining cheese at the table.

Serves 6.

From La Taverna Del Pittore, Bolgheri

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Photography by stu spivack

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

by carlina

butternut-squash-soup.jpg
Ingredients:

  • 4 medium butternut squash (6 pounds)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 12 very thin slices of pancetta (3 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 large Spanish onion, chopped
  • 6 thyme sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 quarts chicken stock or low-sodium broth
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Sugar (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Set the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, cut sides up. Put a piece of butter in each cavity and season generously with salt and pepper. Drape the squash halves with the pancetta slices. Roast the squash for 45 to 50 minutes, or until tender.

Transfer the pancetta to paper towels to drain. Crumble and set aside. Scoop the squash out of the skins into a bowl.

In a large, heavy stockpot, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 6 minutes. Add 3 of the thyme sprigs and the bay leaf. Stir in the squash and the stock and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat and simmer the soup for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pick out and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Working in batches, transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and puree until thick and creamy-smooth, about 1 minute per batch. Transfer the soup to a clean saucepan. Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper (and sugar if desired).

Reheat the soup if necessary. Ladle into 12 bowls. Garnish the soup with the pancetta, the leaves from the remaining 3 thyme sprigs and a drizzle of olive oil.

MAKE AHEAD The soup and roasted pancetta can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat the soup and recrisp the pancetta before serving; the soup may need to be thinned with stock or water.

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Photography by semarr