Italian – Cooking Therapy

CAPRESE GALETTE

7 Sep 20201 Comment

The Summer Season brings us many joys. Of those joys, the humble tomato is one of them. The tomato is a versatile fruit and can be found in many of our favorite foods and condiments. For this recipe, I was inspired by one of my favorite salads, the Caprese, which is just a simple combination of sliced, ripe tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella, and pesto. I then baked that awesome combination in a French pastry dough that I infused with herbs and cheese. The combination of flavors is extravagant. I could eat this for any meal of the day. Besides being very flavorful and filling, it is also very light. Try yours today!

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Wait time: 40 Minutes

Bake Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

For the galette

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

¼ cup fresh oregano, chopped

¼ teaspoon salt

1 stick of unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces

2 tbsps red wine vinegar

3 tbsps cold water

1 large tomato or 2-3 Roma tomatoes, sliced into ¼ inch slices

1 cup of pesto (see ingredients and instructions below on preparing pesto)

1 16oz package of sliced mozzarella, or a 1 pound mozzarella ball sliced into ¼ inch slices

1 egg yolk

3 tbsp milk or heavy cream

1 cup grated parmesan or manchego cheese

For the Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves (no stems)

2 tablespoons pine nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts, toasted

4 large cloves garlic

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

To make the pesto

Before working on the pesto, begin work on the galette pastry. See below
Add all the ingredients together into the food processor and process until it forms a smooth paste.

To make the galette

In a food processor, add the flour, herbs, salt, parmesan or manchego cheese, and butter, and pulse for 5 seconds to blend it
Mix the cold water and vinegar in a glass. Slowly add the water, little by little, and pulse until the pastry starts to come together. When you touch it, you should be able to press and mold it. It should have the texture of wet sand
Transfer it to your work surface and roll it into a ball and flatten it into a disc. Plastic wrap it and refrigerate it until it is chilled. While the dough is chilling, prepare the pesto

Once chilled, sprinkle some flour on your work surface and roll out the dough to a 14 inch oval. Make sure you work quickly so that the dough remains cool. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Spread and smooth out the pesto across the surface of the dough, leaving a little more than an inch for the crust

Layer the tomato and fresh mozzarella by placing alternate slices on the pesto. Drizzle more pesto on top

Fold the crust part of the dough up and over sort of forming a tucked wall. Mix the yolks and the milk or heavy cream to make an egg wash. Using a brush, spread the egg wash across the outside. Add in the middle rack of the oven and bake for about an hour or until the pastry has browned and crisp

Let cool before serving. Garnish with some more chopped, fresh basil

Enjoy!

BAKED TORTELLINI

26 Apr 2020Leave a comment

What can be a more comforting meal than a big, saucy, CHEESY, plate of pasta. In this dish, I am showing you how to make a delicious tangy tomato sauce from scratch that will make any Italian nona proud. The dish is baked and the cheese becomes this beautiful, gooey, stringy companion to the sauce. This is a big hearty meal that should be enjoyed with a nap afterwards. Try yours today!

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Bake Time: 35 Minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 package of tortellini

1 can of diced tomatoes

2 plump Roma or plum tomatoes, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon of black pepper

1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 tablespoon of pesto

2 tablespoons of roasted red pepper paste

¼ cup of chopped parsley

1-pound ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced ¼ thick or crumbled, based on your preference

½ cup grated parmesan cheese or pecorino romano

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Cook the tortellini to package instructions and strain. Set aside until it is time to bake
Time to make the sauce!
In a medium saucepan, sauté the garlic in olive oil until it becomes fragrant. Then add the diced tomatoes and continue to sauté until both the tomatoes and garlic soften

Add the can of diced tomatoes and stir
Add the salt, pepper, red chili flakes, and sugar and stir until they are blended into the sauce. Bring to boil, and then lower the heat to bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes
Add the pesto and roasted red pepper paste and stir until it is blended. Then add the parsley and stir one last time. Shut the heat off and set the sauce aside.

In a baking pan or dish, cover the base with a thin layer of sauce. Add half the tortellini amount and cover with sauce. Sprinkle some of the grated parmesan or pecorino romano across the sauce covered tortellini. Evenly place mozzarella slices across the top of the tortellini. Cover with sauce again and sprinkle more of the grated cheese

Add the remaining tortellini and repeat the sauce and cheese cover process

Place in the oven and cook for 35 minutes or until the cheese has become golden brown and the sauce is bubbling
Let it cool for 5 minutes
Serve and enjoy!

ANGEL HAIR AGLIO E OLIO WITH CHICKEN AND BLISTERED CHERRY TOMATOES

14 Jan 202012 Apr 2020

I do not believe angel hair pasta gets as much love as all the other pastas, and I do not understand why not. I prefer it to spaghetti and it’s my staple pasta when I make pasta aglio e olio. I like the thinness of it and can easily be used for an array of pasta dishes. This recipe is a touch on the classic aglio e olio, which is just pasta cooked simply with garlic and oil. What could be better? I have also included grilled chicken and blistered cherry tomatoes in this recipe, and is fully packed with flavor. Try yours today!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients:

1 package of angel hair pasta

7 cloves of garlic, minced

1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved

3 large chicken breasts sliced into ½ inch strips

2 tbsp dry, white wine

Olive oil

Salt

Black pepper

Red pepper flakes

Instructions:

In a medium sized pot, cook the pasta to al dente per box instructions in salted water. When pasta is finished, strain and set aside
Season the chicken strips with the salt and peppers and cook in a large pan over a medium flame until they are done. Set aside
Add oil and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and heat over a medium heat. Add garlic and tomatoes, and cook until garlic is fragrant, and tomatoes are blistered. Add the white wine and swirl the pan
Add the chicken strips and pasta and mix with tongs

Top with grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley
Enjoy!

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

30 Apr 201814 Apr 2020Leave a comment

A traditional meal that is enjoyable to not only eat, but to cook is Spaghetti and Meatballs. It is even better when you make the sauce and meatballs yourself. Making the meatballs from scratch will have you feeling like a little kid again taking part in arts and crafts; you mix all the ingredients together, and mold them into perfect round, meaty balls. This can be a fun activity you can do with anyone, or even by yourself with some music playing in the background and a full-bodied wine in a glass. It is not a time consuming recipe and you do not have to prep it all day like you thought you would have. In fact, it is quite simply and will have you comparing your meatballs and sauce to that of an Italian grandmother’s. Try yours today and see how tasty it is! Buon appetito!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour (20 minutes if using readymade sauce)

Serves 6

Ingredients

1-pound lean ground beef

1-pound ground pork

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 eggs

¼ cup grated Romano cheese

½ cup of stale bread, crumbled

2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped

Kosher salt

Black pepper

1 package of spaghetti or pasta of preference

Canola oil for frying

For the sauce (you can also use store bought if you like)

1 can of crushed tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

¼ cup of finely chopped basil

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon oregano

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Instructions

In a large bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, bread, Romano cheese, parsley, salt and pepper, and the eggs. Add two tablespoons of olive oil
Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until it forms a consistency similar to molding clay. Shape the meatballs into the size you want. The larger the meatballs, the longer they take to cook. The size should be between a golf ball and baseball
In a large frying pan, add the canola oil and heat on a high flame. To check when it’s ready, sprinkle a little bit of flour in the oil. If it sizzles and melts away, the oil is ready
While the oil is heating up, make the sauce. In a medium saucepan, drizzle olive oil and add the onions, cooking over a medium high heat. Once the onions have softened and become fragrant, add the garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant and onions translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. Bring to a simmer and cover stirring occasionally until it thickens. While the sauce is simmering, cook the meatballs
Add the ball carefully in, one at a time. Cook each side for about 5-7 minutes or until side begins to brown. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, flip the meatball over so the other side gets cooked. Remove, strain, and transfer to a paper towel lined plate
While the meatballs are straining in the plate and the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta
Add hot water into a pot and bring to a boil. Add salt and stir. Add the pasta and cook based on instructions on box
Once past has become al dente, strain.
Add the meatballs to the sauce and stir
Plate the pasta and add the meatballs and sauce on top
Add some grated cheese and garnish with some parsley
Enjoy!

PASTA BOLOGNESE

4 Jun 201718 Apr 2020Leave a comment

Pasta Bolognese is a traditional Italian dish originating from Bologna. It is a robust meat sauce and the most commonly consumed of the pasta sauces. My recipe teaches you how to make a no-hassle sauce that is full of flavor that will make you lick the plate clean. After searing the meat on a high heat, it is stewed in the sauce over a low heat reducing it and leaving a tender, enjoyable ragu for your pasta. Try yours today!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef chuck

1 16oz container of crushed tomato sauce

2 small red onions, diced

5 cloves of garlic, minced

1 large carrot finely chopped

5 large white mushrooms, sliced

2 cups red wine

5 sprigs of thyme

5 sweet basil leaves

½ nutmeg, grated

½ teaspoon of sugar

¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

Olive oil

Sea salt

Crushed red pepper flakes

Black pepper

Pasta of your choice, I used spaghetti (if you like to make your own pasta, you can find instructions on how to here)

Instructions

In a pot, add a teaspoon of olive oil and sauté the onions. Add a pinch of salt. Cook them until translucent over a medium heat
Add the ground beef and a few generous sprinklings of salt and pepper, and a pinch of the crushed red pepper flakes. Add the garlic to sauté with the meat. Increase the heat to high to brown the meat and get rid of any water and oil
When the liquids have reduced and the meat has browned, add the wine, mushrooms, thyme
Simmer over a medium-high heat until the wine almost completely reduces. Add the tomato sauce. Add the basil leaves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sugar and stir.
Bring to a simmer over a low heat and let reduce until sauce thickens. Add more salt or any of the other spices as needed or to preferred taste. While sauce is reducing, cook the pasta. Drain the pasta once cooked
Transfer the pasta into a large serving plate or small dining plate and top with the Bolognese. Top with some grated Pecorino Romano or a cheese of your choice
Enjoy!

ITALIAN STUFFED CHICKEN

31 Mar 201718 Apr 2020Leave a comment

This is a dish using a few number of ingredients that combined pack such an intense flavor, it will make you feel you are in Italy! The sweetness of the sundried tomatoes compliment the saltiness of the prosciutto. Add melted fresh mozzarella into the mix and you have a symphony of flavors brewing! This dish is versatile and can be sided with pasta, rice, or a crisp, fresh salad.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

6 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cleaned and trimmed

1 1 pound ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced into equal round ¼ inch slices and then into half moons

1 cup of sundried tomatoes

4oz of Prosciutto Di Parma

4 cloves of garlic, minced

Olive oil

Kosher salt

Pepper

1 ½ teaspoons of oregano

Crushed red pepper flakes

Wooden/bamboo skewers or baking string

Instructions

Cut the chicken breast horizontally through the middle of one side, about halfway through the chicken. Open the butterflied chicken breast like a book
Season with salt and pepper and add one or two prosciutto pieces (depending on size of chicken), a layer of fresh mozzarella, and a layer of the sundried tomatoes
Close the chicken up and it will look like sandwich. Season both sides with salt and pepper and rub a thin layer of olive oil with your hands across it. Now, using either wooden skewers or baker’s string, hold the chicken together so that the stuffing remains inside
Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a pan and start cooking the garlic. Add the chicken and cook over a medium heat until each side browns, about 10-15 minutes. Season with the red pepper flakes and oregano as each side is cooking. Do not constantly flip the chicken while cooking, instead let it cook thoroughly on each side and flip only once
Once ready you can eat as a meal or pairing it with a plate of pasta. If you want to be healthy, it pairs well with a fresh, crisp salad. I used tagliatelle pasta
Enjoy!

Stuffed Shells

13 Nov 201618 Apr 2020Leave a comment

For some, stuffed shells are a comfort food. For others, part of a traditional Sunday Italian dinner. For me, they are an easy go-to meal option. The beauty of this dish is that it is super easy to make, does not require a lot of ingredients, and leaves your stomach full. If you are pressed for time, feel free to use ready made tomato sauce, but it will not taste as delicious as if you made it yourself, which really adds to the dish. You can also make it a meat or vegetable sauce should you feel bold in the kitchen. Besides, there aren’t that many things better than coming home to a large tray of stuffed shells.

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredient

1 Box of pasta shells

1 16 oz container of ricotta

2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup of ground pecorino romano

6 cloves of garlic, minced

1 8 oz package of baby bella mushrooms, chopped

4 or 5 sprigs of fresh parsley, chopped

5 leaves of basil, chopped

2 large eggs

1 ½ 16 oz cans of crushed tomatoes

Olive oil

Kosher salt

Crushed red pepper flakes

Black pepper

1 tablespoon of oregano

Instructions

In a pot, bring water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Once water is boiled, add the pasta shells and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Strain the shells and let them cool down
Preheat the oven to 375
In a medium sized saucepan, add two tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the garlic over a medium-low heat until fragrant.
One the garlic is fragrant, add the mushrooms and another tablespoon of olive oil. Cook until mushrooms soften and begin to have some color on them
Add the crushed tomatoes, the oregano, basil, salt and pepper to taste, a pinch of the crushed red pepper, and a pinch of the pecorino and stir. Cover the pot and bring to a boil
While sauce is cooking, in a metal bowl, add the ricotta, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of the pecorino, the eggs, and the parsley and stir. Add a dash of salt and pepper to taste
Using a small spoon, stuff the shells with the ricotta mixture. About one spoonful should do it as you don’t want the filling to overflow
Once all the shells are done, create a base of sauce in the baking dish you are using. Once the bottom is covered in sauce, add the shells, filling side up, placing them closely one after the other. Cover the shells with the remainder of the sauce with the remaining mozzarella and pecorino cheeses
Cover the dish with foil and place it in the oven and let bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the foil and bake for about 10 more minutes or until the cheese begins to brown and become gooey
Remove from oven and let cool down before serving
Serve and enjoy!

Wild Boar Ragout with Pappardelle

24 Jan 201619 Apr 2020Leave a comment

For this recipe I decide to combine the French ragout with the Italian ragu. Although the popular known Italian ragu is a tomato based sauce, it varies from its French counterpart in that, the French version is stew-like rather than sauce-like. The inspiration for this came on a cold winter day and when it finally snowed, and I became snowed in, I decided to cook it. It is a very hearty dish that will have you licking your plate clean.

Cook Time: 2.5 Hours

Ingredients

1 lb. wild boar mini roast, cubed

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery, chopped

4 sprigs of fresh Thyme

2 sprigs fresh Rosemary

4 sprigs of fresh parsley

2 Bay leaves

Olive oil

Half a stick of butter

1 cup of red wine

1 ½ cups of beef stock

4 plum tomatoes, from a can

1 teaspoon tomato paste

Salt

Pepper

Red pepper flakes

Sugar

Flour

Instructions:

On a plate, season the wild boar with some salt and pepper and set aside
In a large Dutch oven, add 4 tablespoons of oil and melt the butter. Once butter is melted cook the garlic and onion until the onion becomes translucent
Then add the celery and carrots and cook until they start to soften over a medium heat
Add the wild boar and cook until it is no longer pink and it starts to brown, about ten minutes
Add salt, pepper, and two nice pinches of the crushed red pepper
As the wild boar is cooking, preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Sprinkle a little flour so it absorbs some excess grease and then add the red wine and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, add the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and parsley. Bring to a simmer and let the wine reduce. About 10 minutes
Take the tomatoes and crush them with your hand over the Dutch oven so the juices get added. Then add the broth and the tomato paste, stir, and bring to a boil. Check the taste. If it is too acidic due to the tomatoes, add some sugar and a little amount of salt to taste to remove some of the acidity
While the sauce begins to reduce, transfer it into the oven
Leave it in the oven at 375 for 45 minutes. Check and see if it has reduced. If it as reduced too much, add a little water as you need to keep a sauce like consistency since the pasta will be added
Lower the temperature to 350 degrees and let it cook for another half hour
While the temperature is lowering, bring a pot of water to boil and add a few pinches of salt
Once the water has boiled, add the pasta and cook for 8 minutes
Drain the pasta and transfer into the Dutch oven
Mix the ragout and pasta
Transfer to a plate, add some shaved pecorino and enjoy

Prosciutto Arugula Pizza with a Balsamic Fig Glaze

13 Dec 201519 Apr 2020Leave a comment

This pizza is a delectable treat. The bitterness from the arugula, the saltiness of the prosciutto, and the sweetness of the balsamic fig glaze all come together for a knockout taste, each bite of the slice better than the last. This is not your standard Friday night plain or one topping boring pizza, this is tasty production.

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

*Use prior pizza dough recipe*

Ingredients

2 cups of arugula

¼ pound of prosciutto

1 cup of fresh mozzarella

½ cup of olive oil

5 cloves of garlic

2 cups of figs (if using dry figs soak them in warm water for 15 minutes to rehydrate)

½ cup of balsamic vinegar

½ cup of red wine

1 tablespoon of honey

Instructions

For the garlic oil

Combine the half cup of olive oil and the garlic cloves in a small saucepan and let it simmer over a low heat for 10 minutes
We will be using this oil to brush on the pizza as well as add some on top

For the balsamic Glaze

Add the figs, the balsamic vinegar and the wine into another saucepan and let simmer for over a low heat for 20 minutes
When the mixture starts boiling stir in the honey
When figs become mushy and start opening, transfer the mixture into a blender
Blend until it reaches a sauce like consistency
If the glaze is too thick, add some water to thin it out

For the pizza

Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Take dough and place into a baking tray
From the middle of the dough stretch it out slowly towards the edges of the tray to the desired size
- Be careful not to stretch it out too much that it causes holes in the dough
Brush the garlic oil across the pizza and around the crust
Place the pizza in the oven and let it cook and rise for 5 minutes
Take the pizza out and brush with oil again
Slice the fresh mozzarella and place it around the pizza
Place back in the oven and let cook for another 5 minutes
Take the pizza out and add the prosciutto. Let it cook for a few more minutes
Once the crust is nice and golden brown, take the pizza out and add the arugula on top
- Feel free to add more of the garlic oil on top of the arugula if you desire.
Add the balsamic fig glaze on top, cut into 8 slices, serve and enjoy