Rigatoni With Merguez Ricotta Salata And Brown Butter Recipes

RIGATONI WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Spray a 9x13-inch pan with Pam.
• Cook rigatoni as per directions on package; drain.
• Beat eggs in a small bowl.
• Stir in ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and parsley.
• To assemble casserole:.
• Spread 2 cups pasta sauce to cover bottom of pan.
• Place 1/2 of the cooked rigatoni over sauce; top with 1/2 the ricotta mixture dropped by spoonfuls.
• Layer 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 2 cups pasta sauce, remaining rigatoni, and remaining ricotta mixture.
• Top with 1 cup mozzarella, remaining pasta sauce then the last 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake 60-70 minutes until bubbly.
• Uncover and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until cheese melts.
• Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

RIGATONI WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F
• In a small saucepot, heat EVOO over medium to medium-high heat
• Add butter and melt
• When it starts to foam, add garlic, stir a minute and add tomatoes, mashing them up
• Add onion, basil and bay
• Season with salt and pepper; simmer 30 minutes over low heat
• Remove onion
• Add butter to sauce to finish
• Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta
• Combine ricotta with salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, mint, lemon zest, half the mozzarella and half of the Parm
• Salt pasta water
• Boil rigatoni about 7-8 minutes, under-cooking it a minute or so from al dente
• Reserve about 1 cup of starchy cooking liquid
• Drain pasta and return to hot pot, stir in ricotta mixture, peas and adding starchy cooking water to combine as needed
• Transfer to a baking dish
• Pour red sauce evenly over top of pasta in baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella and Parm cheese
• Bake until bubbly and the cheese is browned, 15-18 minutes--be careful not to dry the pasta out

RIGATONI WITH MERGUEZ, RICOTTA SALATA, AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold running water.
• 2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until the milk solids in the saucepan turn hazelnut brown, about 2 minutes. Immediately pour the melted butter into a small bowl.
• 3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, occasionally stirring and breaking it up with the side of the spoon into bite-sized pieces, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until it softens, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and parsley and mix well. Pour into a colander to drain the excess fat. Clean the skillet.
• 4. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the sausage mixture and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 5. Transfer the pasta mixture to a serving bowl. Add the browned butter and mix well. Top with the ricotta salata, Sicilian Bread Crumbs, and mint. Drizzle with additional olive oil, toss, and serve immediately.
• 1. To make the bread crumbs: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With the machine running, drop the garlic through the tube of a food processor to mince the garlic. Add the bread cubes, oil, and parsley and pulse until the bread becomes coarse crumbs. Spread on an 18-by-13-inch half-sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs are lightly toasted and smell garlicky, 7 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Makes 2 cups. Measure out 1 cup of the bread crumbs. (Reserve the remaining bread crumbs for another use; they can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)

DUCK EGG RAVIOLI, SHEEP'S MILK RICOTTA AND ALMOND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• For the ravioli: Mix together the ricotta, orange zest, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and season well with freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
• Lay the pasta dough out in long sheets on your counter. Working quickly, place 4 dollops of ricotta mixture along 1 sheet pasta, spacing them about 5 inches apart. Form the ricotta mixture into small "nests" with sufficient space for a duck egg yolk in each.
• Carefully transfer the yolks into each ricotta nest.
• Using a spray bottle filled with water, gently mist the pasta sheet to seal. Lay the second sheet of pasta over the first and use a ring cutter to seal. Seal the pasta gently with fingers.
• Dust a half sheet tray with flour and transfer the ravioli to the tray. Freeze until needed.
• When ready to serve: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the ravioli approximately 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to overcook.
• For the sauce: Add the butter to a saucepan over high heat; as it begins to melt, add the sage leaves and almonds. Allow the butter to brown. Squeeze in the orange juice and add a ladleful of pasta water. Add the Parmesan cheese. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the ravioli from the water and place directly into sauce, tossing to coat. Transfer the ravioli to plates and finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
• To make the pasta dough: Mound the "00" flour on a cutting board or countertop. Sprinkle the salt over it. Form a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yolks. Add the olive oil and break each yolk. Using a plastic bench scraper or your fingers, draw the flour over the yolks from the perimeter. Continue to mix the flour into the yolks until it's all incorporated, kneading only enough for it to come together. Shape the dough into a rectangle, about 1/2-inch thick. The mixture should be dense, flaky, and crumbly. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for 10 to 30 minutes.
• Cut the dough into 4 pieces. Take one piece of dough (keeping the others covered) and flatten it with your hands. If the dough feels very dry, dampen the surface with a few drops of water using your fingers or a pastry brush. Starting with the rollers of your pasta machine set to the widest setting, pass the dough through, five or six times, or until the dough begins to become pliable. Do the same for the remaining pieces. Narrow the rollers by one setting and roll each piece through it once. Continue narrowing the rollers and rolling the pasta through each consecutive setting one time until the dough has reached the desired thickness.
• Proceed to cut the pasta as desired, tossing the finished pasta with the rice flour to prevent sticking. The pasta at this point can sit at room temperature covered with parchment or a dry towel, something that will allow it to breathe but not dry out, for up to half a day. It can also be cut as desired, tossed with rice flour, and frozen in plastic bags for up to a month.