Mario Batali Italian Bread Recipes

MAKE-AHEAD SHEET-PAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place bread in a large bowl, pour milk over, and let sit until moistened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze bread with your hands to remove excess milk; discard milk. Tear bread into pea-size pieces and return to bowl.
• Add beef, sausage, eggs, Parmesan, and salt to bread. Using your hands, gently mix until evenly distributed (do not overmix).
• To serve immediately:
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 500°F. Lightly coat three 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with oil. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/2" apart on prepared sheets.
• Roast meatballs, rotating racks top to bottom once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
• To freeze to serve later:
• Line two 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/4" apart on prepared sheets. Freeze on sheets until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and freeze up to 3 months.
• To cook meatballs from frozen, preheat oven to 500°F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Transfer desired amount of frozen meatballs to prepared sheet and roast, turning once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 10-12 minutes.

POTATO TORTA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2- to 3-quart, 2- to 3-inch-deep earthenware casserole or baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
• 2. Slice the potatoes 1/4-inch thick and place in a large bowl. Toss with 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs and season well with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs with the parsley, the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and the pecorino.
• 3. Spread a layer of potatoes in the bottom of the casserole and sprinkle with 3 to 4 tablespoons of the bread crumb and cheese mixture. Continue layering, finishing with the breadcrumb cheese mixture.
• 4. Bake for 1 hour, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown. Serve hot.

MARIO BATALI'S FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat.
• Add onions, celery and garlic an saute until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to high; add veal, pork, pancetta or bacon and saute until meat is brown, breaking up meat with the back of a fork, about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes with their juices, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, milk and thyme.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour 15 minutes, breaking up tomatoes with the back of a spoon, adding more chicken broth if mixture is too thick and stirring occasionally.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook fettuccine in large pot of boiling water just until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally.
• Drain.
• Add fettuccine to pot with ragu and toss to blend.
• Transfer to large bowl.
• Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Serve, passing remaining Parmesan seperately.

AGNOLOTTI - MARIO BATALI

Steps:

• Make a mound of the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs, oil and any other flavoring you choose. Using a fork, beat together the eggs, oil and flavorings and begin to incorporate the flour starting with the inner rim of the well. As you expand the well, keep pushing the flour up to retain the well shape. Do not worry that this initial phase looks messy. The dough will come together when 1/2 of the flour is incorporated.
• Start kneading the dough with both hands, using the palms of your hands primarily. Once you have a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up any left over crusty bits. Lightly flour the board and continue kneading for 3 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Continue to knead for another 3 minutes, remembering to dust your board when necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Note: do not skip the kneading or resting portion of this recipe, they are essential for a light pasta.
• Using a pasta machine, roll out the dough to the thinnest setting.
• Bring 6 quarts water to boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
• In a 12 to 14 inch saute pan, heat butter until foam subsides, add onion and cook until soft and golden brown, about 7 to 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool. Add ricotta, Fontina, goat cheese, marjoram, parsley and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.
• To form agnolotti, cut 3 inch strips of pasta lengthwise and place 1 tablespoon cheese filling 3 inches apart. Fold top of pasta down to bottom and pinch closed. Press dough flat between lumps of filling. Using a pastry cutter, cut half moons using folded part as flat side of moon. Continue until pasta and filling are finished.
• When all agnolotti are finished, drop into boiling water and lower heat. Cook at high simmer until tender. Meanwhile, melt butter with mushrooms in a 12 to 14 inch saute pan. Drain agnolotti and place in pan. Sprinkle with Parmigiano and toss over medium heat to coat. Serve immediately.