Leek Radicchio Sauce Recipes

PANCETTA AND LEEK RISOTTO FOR TWO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken broth in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pancetta to a paper-towel lined plate.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat from the saucepan, then add the garlic, leek, a pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leek is tender and softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice, butter and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, until the rice is toasted, smells nutty and turns a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it is completely absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle 1/2 cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center). Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 15 to 17 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
• Stir in the baby spinach, Parmesan, half of the reserved pancetta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper. Stir until the spinach is wilted and everything is evenly combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Spoon into 2 dinner bowls and top with the remaining pancetta and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

PASTA WITH RADICCHIO SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove core and outer leaves of radicchio, and chop fine.
• In saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons butter, and saute radicchio unitl wilted. Add 2 ounces water and simmer for 2 minutes. Taste radicchio. If radicchio is no longer bitter, let it simmer until soft and water has evaporated. If it remains bitter, pour off excess water, add another 1/4 cup of water and simmer until it is soft and water evaporates. The double simmering should remove any bitterness.
• Reduce heat under radicchio to very low, add cream and cook until sauce is thick and reduced, about 10 to 20 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, prepare the penne, linguini or other pasta. When ready, drain it and mix with sauce. Add Parmesan and 2 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

LINGUINE WITH LEEKS, RADICCHIO, AND WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add leeks; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until tender and beginning to brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Puree parsley, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/4 cup walnuts, lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons oil in mini processor until coarse puree forms. Season pesto with salt and pepper. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta, pesto, and radicchio to leeks; toss, adding cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if dry. Garnish with walnuts and shaved Parmesan.