Michhael Chiarello Michelangelo Inspired Pasta Recipes

SPAGHETTI ALL'AMATRICIANA - MICHAEL CHIARELLO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Meanwhile, unroll the pancetta.
• Cut it into 1-inch long chunks and then slice each chunk thinly across the grain.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderately low heat.
• Add the pancetta and cook it until it renders some of its fat, about 5 minutes; do not allow it to crisp.
• Add the onion and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.
• While the onion is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water.
• Add the red pepper flakes and parsley to the onion mixture and cook briefly to release their fragrance.
• Add the vinegar and simmer briefly until it evaporates, then add the tomato puree and 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
• Simmer briefly to blend.
• When the pasta is just shy of al dente, drain it and return it to the warm pot over moderate heat.
• Add the sauce and cook briefly so the pasta absorbs some of the sauce, then transfer the pasta to a warmed serving bowl and shower with the romano cheese.
• Serve immediately.

MICHAEL CHIARELLO'S PICKLED ANTIPASTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water with the tomato sauce, ketchup, lemon juice, olive oil, tarragon vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, brown sugar and garlic.
• Add the cayenne pepper and season with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 20 minutes.
• Transfer the marinade to a large bowl to cool.
• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the cauliflower until barely tender, about 2 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cauliflower to a baking sheet to cool.
• Bring the water back to a boil.
• Add the carrots and celery, blanch for 2 minutes and transfer to the baking sheet to cool.
• Add the white wine vinegar to the saucepan and return to a boil.
• Add the mushrooms, simmer for 1 minute and drain well; transfer to the other vegetables and let cool.
• Add all of the cooled vegetables to the marinade, then add the remaining ingredients.
• Toss gently but thoroughly, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• MAKE AHEAD The recipe can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

SPAGHETTINI SQUARED: PASTA WITH OLIVE OIL, GARLIC, AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. While the water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, cut the zucchini with the fine French-fry cutter on a mandoline. If you do not have one, cut by hand into the longest, finest julienne you can manage. Season with salt and pepper. If your zucchini is very finely cut, it does not need to be cooked. Otherwise, place in a colander, suspend over the pasta pot, cover the pot, and steam the zucchini until still slightly crunchy, about 2 minutes. Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until light brown. Turn on the exhaust fan and add the red pepper flakes. Quickly mix in the basil and parsley and remove from the heat. When the pasta is al dente, drain through a colander, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Pour the pasta into a warm serving bowl; add the zucchini, basil oil, the garlic mixture, and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Toss well, adding cooking water as needed to make a smooth sauce. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, as needed. Grate about 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top and serve at once. Cook's Note: The reason to save the basil oil to toss with the pasta at the end is so the oil will have a fresh, uncooked taste.
• Basil Oil (and other herb flavored oils):
• For soft herbs, such as basil, parsley, cilantro or tarragon: Use 4 cups packed leaves to 2 cups pure olive oil. For woody herbs, such as rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano or lemon verbena: Use 1 cup packed leaves to 2 cups pure olive oil. In a blender, puree the herbs and oil until completely smooth. Put the mixture in a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over moderate heat. Simmer for 45 seconds, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Don't press on the mixture, but you can tap the strainer against your hand to get the oil to drip through faster. Immediately strain the oil again through a flat-bottomed paper filter. If the filter clogs, you may need to change the filter partway through. It's okay to pick the filter up and squeeze it gently to get the oil out faster, but be careful not to break the filter. (Sometimes a little dark liquid comes through the filter first. Don't worry; that's water. It will settle to the bottom because it is heavier than the oil.) Let the filtered oil settle for a few hours, then pour it off the dark liquid. Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place. Cook's Notes: The oil passes through the filter faster if it's filtered while still hot, so set up your filter before you start the recipe. You'll need a flat-bottomed paper filter, like those used for some drip coffee machines. Cone-shaped filters tend to get clogged. Yield: about 1 1/3 cups

TORTELLINI MICHELANGELO

Steps:

• Prepare tortellini as per package directions, drain & set aside (add dash of olive oil & 1 oz. chicken stock so does not all stick together.
• Meanwhile, prepare white sauce Recipe #302996 as directed only prepare in dutch oven or large stockpot and keep on low flame when done.
• Once white sauce is made, brown mushrooms & onion in 1 tablespoon butter add pre-cooked & cut chicken, and pancetta & prosciutto to brown for a few minutes then add all that to dutch oven.
• Stir in tortellini & parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
• ** If sauce is too thick, add up to 1/2 cup additional heavy cream 1 tablepoon at a time until desired consistency.
• ** Note: tortellini should not be smothered in the sauce, only supposed to coat the tortellini so you may need to use a full 2 lbs. tortellini.

SUPER QUICK MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer the pasta to a baking sheet. Toss the pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the chicken stock.
• In another large saucepan over high heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, celery, and carrots.
• Cook until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. Add the chopped herbs. Raise the heat to high. Add the beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then bring it down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes, skimming any foam off the top of the soup. Season generously with pepper. Add salt, to taste. Just a few minutes before serving, add the cooked tubetti pasta. Serve warm with Parmesan and olive oil passed at the table.
• Cooking notes: Add the cooked pasta just before serving. If it sits in the soup too long, it develops a flabby texture. Tubetti (little hollow tubes) are the classic pasta for minestrone, but you could substitute another small shape of pasta.