Pasta Alla Norcina Recipes

PASTA ALLA NORCINA RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• Cook's Illustrated Notes: For an authentic-tasting version, we had to make our own sausage. We streamlined the process by starting with store-bought ground pork and making a strong brine with salt to speed its effect. To ensure the juiciest (and most flavorful) possible sausage, we added baking soda and seared the sausage in the form of a patty on both sides before chopping it into small pieces and gently finishing it in the sauce of cream, wine, and mushrooms. Grease large dinner plate with vegetable oil spray. Dissolve 1⅛ teaspoons salt and baking soda in 4 teaspoons water in medium bowl. Add pork and fold gently to combine; let stand for 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon garlic, 3/4 teaspoon rosemary, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper to pork and smear with rubber spatula until well combined and tacky, 10 to 15 seconds. Transfer pork mixture to greased plate and form into rough 6-inch patty. Pulse mushrooms in food processor until finely chopped, 10 to 12 pulses. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add patty and cook without moving it until bottom is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip patty and continue to cook until second side is well browned, 2 to 3 minutes longer (very center of patty will be raw). Remove pan from heat, transfer sausage to cutting board, and chop into 1/8- to 1/4-inch pieces. Transfer sausage to bowl and add cream; set aside. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven. Add pasta and 2 tablespoons salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. While pasta cooks, return now-empty skillet to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil, mushrooms, and ⅛ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 teaspoons oil, remaining garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, and ½ teaspoon pepper (and red pepper flakes, if using); cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits, and cook until completely evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in sausage-cream mixture and ¾ cup reserved cooking water and simmer until meat is no longer pink, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in Pecorino (or Parmigiano Reggiano) until smooth. NOTE: You might want to add half of the cheese and taste, at first. Sometimes, the cheese can add a lot of salty flavor. Add more, if you desire. Add sauce, parsley, and lemon juice to pasta and toss well to coat. Before serving, adjust consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed and season with salt and pepper to taste. TASTING NOTES: Personally, I think the red pepper flakes add a nice extra kick. The lemon juice adds a nice acidity and balance to the saltiness of the pork sausage and cheese.

PASTA ALLA NORCINA RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of well salted water to the boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook to the time on the package (or minus a minute if you prefer al dente).
• Heat up the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and salumi and fry until fragrant and slightly browned.
• Crumble the sausage into the skillet. Cook very lightly on both sides, then break apart with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula.
• Add the wine and reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the cream and reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• When the pasta is done, drain and transfer to the skillet along with the cheese, over medium heat. Toss until the pasta is well coated and a thick sauce has formed. Enjoy immediately with extra cheese.

PASTA ALLA NORCINA (SAUSAGE + CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• Combine the wine, water, and dried mushrooms in a small pot. Simmer over low heat until the mushrooms have softened, about 10 minutes. To remove any sediment, strain the liquid through a fine sieve or coffee filter (and reserve the liquid) and rinse off the mushrooms in fresh water. Set aside for the sauce.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and stir occasionally until translucent and soft but not brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add in the sausage and cook while breaking it up with a spoon, until brown and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard the fat.
• Add in the mushrooms, mushroom liquid, heavy cream, and parmesan, stir to combine. Stir in the cooked noodles and bring to a simmer for a few minutes to help thicken the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with fresh parsley (and additional parmesan, if desired), and serve immediately.

PASTA ALLA NORCINA: THE TRADITIONAL RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the extra virgin olive oil with onion in a large pan.
• Peel and crumble the sausage.
• Place it in the pan and let it brown for a few minutes.
• Deglaze with white wine.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in plenty of salted water.
• Add the ricotta along with a little boiling water.
• Mix and season with salt and pepper.
• Drain the pasta al dente and toss with the sausage sauce for at least 1 minute (add a sprinkling of black truffle if desired).
• Serve and garnish with Parmesan.