Pasta Carcione Recipes

PASTA CARCIONE

Steps:

• Remove stems from spinach and stack leaves together; chop thin longer strips instead of square chops and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and place in a large bowl.
• Drizzle olive oil over pasta and add salt and pepper to taste, spinach and tomatoes; gently toss.
• Add goat cheese and serve warm or room temperature.

ULTIMATE SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE

Steps:

• Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.
• Finely chop the 100g pancetta, having first removed any rind. Finely grate 50g pecorino cheese and 50g parmesan and mix them together.
• Beat the 3 large eggs in a medium bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper. Set everything aside.
• Add 1 tsp salt to the boiling water, add 350g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until al dente (just cooked).
• Squash 2 peeled plump garlic cloves with the blade of a knife, just to bruise it.
• While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta with the garlic. Drop 50g unsalted butter into a large frying pan or wok and, as soon as the butter has melted, tip in the pancetta and garlic.
• Leave to cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pancetta is golden and crisp. The garlic has now imparted its flavour, so take it out with a slotted spoon and discard.
• Keep the heat under the pancetta on low. When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta. Don't worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happen) and don't throw the pasta water away yet.
• Mix most of the cheese in with the eggs, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.
• Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat. Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn't scramble, and everything is coated.
• Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it). You don't want it wet, just moist. Season with a little salt, if needed.
• Use a long-pronged fork to twist the pasta on to the serving plate or bowl. Serve immediately with a little sprinkling of the remaining cheese and a grating of black pepper. If the dish does get a little dry before serving, splash in some more hot pasta water and the glossy sauciness will be revived.

PASTA CARTOCCIO FRUTTA DI MARE

Steps:

• Cut the shrimp lengthwise in half. Cut each half crosswise. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and add the shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring, about one minute. Add the shrimp and scallops and cook, stirring, about one minute. Add the tomatoes and broth and bring to the boil. Let simmer about one minute and add the parsley, oregano and Cognac.
• Add the clams and mussels and cover closely. Cook until the clams and mussels open, about one and a half minutes. Add the crab meat, stir gently and remove from the heat.
• Bring four quarts of water to the boil and add the perciatelli. Cook, stirring down with a fork, about one and a half minutes and add the mezza-lasagne and fettuccine. Continue cooking about six minutes.
• Meanwhile, spread out on a flat surface a sheet of aluminum foil measuring about 17 by 30 inches. Fold the foil over itself to make a rectangle measuring 15 by 17 inches. Fold over the open edges to seal. Drain the pasta and place it in the foil bag. Pour the sauce with seafood into the bag. Scatter the basil leaves on top of the pasta and sauce. Fold the open end of the foil to seal it all around hermetically.
• Lightly oil the bottom of a metal, flame-proof dish or baking sheet and place the pasta-filled foil bag on top. Turn the burner to high. Cook for about two minutes, until the bag puffs like a pillow.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a long slit on one side of the bag. Divide the pasta and seafood among four heated dishes.