Cornmeal Pasta Recipes

CORNMEAL PASTA

Steps:

• Place corn, eggs, oil and salt in food processor or blender. Cover and process until smooth. Add flour and cornmeal. Cover and process about 10 seconds or until dough leaves side of bowl and can be pressed together with fingers. Remove dough and press into a ball. Cover dough with plastic wrap or foil. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Divide dough in half. Roll one-half of dough with rolling pin into rectangle 1/8 to 1/16-inch thick on lightly floured surface. Loosely fold rectangle lengthwise into thirds; cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips for fettuccine, 1/8-inch strips for linguine. Hang pasta on drying rack or lightly floured towels to dry. Repeat with remaining dough.
• In 6-quart saucepan, heat 4 quarts water to boiling; add pasta. Boil uncovered 2 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until firm but tender. Drain pasta; do not rinse.

PASTA DOUGH FOR RAVIOLI

Steps:

• To make the pasta dough: In an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook*, combine the flour and salt. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to mix. Drizzle in 1 tablespoons of the olive oil and continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Sprinkle some flour on work surface, knead and fold the dough until elastic and smooth, this should take about 10 minutes. Brush the surface with the remaining olive oil and wrap the dough in plastic wrap; let rest for about 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
• *Alternatively if you don't have an electric mixer: Combine the flour and salt on a flat work surface; shape into a mound and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the well and lightly beat with a fork. Gradually draw in the flour from the inside wall of the well in a circular motion. Use 1 hand for mixing and the other to protect the outer wall. Continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Continue as directed above.
• Cut the ball of dough in 1/2, cover and reserve the piece you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out. Dust the counter and dough with a little flour. Press the dough into a rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at widest setting. Pull and stretch the sheet of dough with the palm of your hand as it emerges from the rollers. Reduce the setting and crank the dough through again, 2 or 3 times. Continue tightening until the machine is at the narrowest setting; the dough should be paper-thin, about 1/8-inch thick (you should be able to see your hand through it.). Dust the sheets of dough with flour as needed.
• Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with the egg wash, which acts as a glue. Drop tablespoons of your favorite filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart. Fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket. With an espresso cup or fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling. Use a sharp knife to cut each pillow into squares and crimp the 4 edges with the tins of a fork to make a tight seal. Dust the ravioli and a sheet pan with cornmeal to prevent the pasta from sticking and lay them out to dry slightly while assembling the rest.
• Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water for 4 minutes; they'll float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Lift the ravioli from water with a large strainer or slotted spoon. Bath the ravioli in your favorite sauce to lightly coat and serve.

HILLBILLY TEA CORNMEAL NOODLES

Steps:

• For the noodles: Mix together the flour, cornmeal and salt on a clean work surface. Make a well in the middle and add the tea, oil and eggs. Mix the egg mixture with a fork until well combined, then slowly mix in the flour until incorporated enough to mix by hand. Knead the dough for 5 minutes; you will know it is done when you squeeze it and the dough springs back afterwards. Set the dough aside and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Cut the dough into thirds and transfer to a floured work surface. Roll out as thinly as you can; flour is your friend here. Sprinkle a little flour on one part of the dough, roll it up into a tube like you would with a jelly roll, and cut it into strips. Repeat with the remaining dough, flouring the noodles generously to prevent sticking. The noodles can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before use.
• For the sauce: Bring a large stock pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Heat some olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and red peppers and cook until lightly caramelized. Turn the heat to low and add the cream, garlic and some salt and black pepper.
• When the water has reached a rolling boil, drop your noodles into the pot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles into the sauce using a spider strainer, adding 1 cup pasta cooking water, and then turn the heat to medium-high. (If you don't have a spider strainer, add 1 cup of pasta water to the sauce, and then separately drain and add the noodles without rinsing.) Cook the noodles in the sauce, stirring, until it all comes together and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Plate it up and finish the dish with some fresh lemon zest over top!

CORNMEAL SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Whisk together flour, polenta, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk together eggs, milk, and fromage blanc with a mixer on medium speed. Reduce speed to low; whisk in flour mixture. Raise speed to medium-high; whisk until thick and gooey, about 2 minutes.
• Working in batches and using a rubber spatula, gradually press batter through a large-holed colander into boiling water. Boil until spaetzle float to top, about 1 minute; scoop out using a fine sieve. Rinse under cold water; drain.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add spaetzle; season with salt and pepper. Brown, tossing often, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; toss in dill.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

CORNMEAL OR POLENTA PASTA

Steps:

• Food-processor mixing recommended, following the directions on page 160.
• Cut in wide strips of polenta pasta.
• Dress with a simple tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.
• Also good with Brodetto with Lobster and Corn (page 299).