Timpano Alla Big Night Recipes

'BIG NIGHT' TIMPANO

Steps:

• To make the pasta, mix the flour and the salt together, then stir the salted flour with the eggs and the oil. Continue to stir until the dough comes together in a ball. On a floured work surface, knead the dough for 10 minutes, or until silky smooth. Wrap with plastic and set aside at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
• Combine all the meatball ingredients. Roll into about 65 balls, using 1 tablespoon of meat for each. In a large nonstick frying pan, cook as many meatballs as will fit in 1 layer over medium heat, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Set aside in a bowl at room temperature.
• In the same pan used to make the meatballs and utilizing the fat left in the pan, cook the onion, carrot, celery and garlic over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Dissolve the tomato paste in the stock or wine and stir into the vegetables. Cook the mixture for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and basil. Simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• To make the timpano, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the penne with 2 cups of the sauce. Roll out the pasta on a lightly floured surface to make a 26-inch round. Grease a 3-quart stainless- steel bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil and gently mold the pasta sheet to the contours of the bowl; there should be enough hanging over the edge to fold over and cover the filling.
• Spoon 1 cup of penne into the bowl. Top with 1/2 cup of the sauce, 12 pieces of egg, half of the meatballs and 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat the process, this time using 3 cups of penne, 1 1/2 cups of sauce, the remaining eggs, meatballs and cheese. Top with the remaining penne and sauce. Create a final layer with the salami. Fold the pasta over the filling and brush with 1 tablespoon of oil. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake the timpano for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 45 more minutes. To check if it's done make a small hole at the top using a knife blade. If steam comes out and the cheese is melted, it's done. Otherwise, bake for 10 to 15 more minutes. To serve, remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Carefully turn upside down onto a large platter.

TIMPANO: A LA "BIG NIGHT" POSTED BY REQUEST

Steps:

• To make dough, place flour, eggs, salt, and olive oil into a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 3 tbs of the water and process. Add more water 1 tbs at a time until mixture comes together and forms a ball. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead to make sure it is well mixed; set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
• Flatten dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Dust top of dough with flour and roll out until it is about 1/16 inch thick and desired diameter.
• Generously grease baking pan with butter and olive oil. Fold dough in half then in half again to form a triangle, then place in the pan. Open dough and arrange it in the pan, gently pressing it on the bottom and sides letting the excess hang over the edge of pan; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• To Prepare filling, have all ingredients at room temperature except pasta. Toss drained pasta with the olive oil and 2 cups of the sauce. Put 6 generous cups of pasta into the bottom of the timpano. Top with 1 cup of the salami, 1 cup of the provolone, 6 of the hard boiled eggs, 1 cup of the meatballs, and 1/3 cup of the Ramano cheese.
• Pour 2 cups of sauce over the top. Top with 6 cups of remaining pasta, and then the remaining salami, provolone, hard boiled eggs, meatballs and ramano cheese. Pour on 2 cups of the sauce. Top with remaining pasta, and the remaining sauce over that.Pour the beaten eggs over the filling.
• Fold the dough over the filling and seal completely. Trim away and discard any double layers of dough.
• Bake until lightly browned, about 1 hour. Then cover with foil and and continue baking until timpano is cooked through and dough is golden brown, reaching an internal temp of 120°F Remove from oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes or more. The baked timpano should not be attached to the pan, if any part is stuck, gently cut loose with a knife.Carefully invert timpano onto a serving platter. Remove pan and allow to cool for an additional 20 minutes or more. Using a long sharp knife, cut a circle about 3 inches diameter in the center of the timpano making sure to cut all the way through to the bottom. Slice the timpano as you would a pie into serving size portions leaving center in place for support for remaining pieces.

MODERN TIMPANO

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Add sausage and cook until well browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
• Return pan to heat, add another tablespoon of oil and stir in smashed garlic cloves. Sauté for 1 minute, then stir in the onion, red chile flakes and a large pinch of kosher salt. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until garlic is browned around the edges and onion is softened, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Pour in wine and let simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomato purée, basil sprig and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a very gentle simmer and cook until thick and deeply flavored, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roast the squash: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place squash on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper, and toss well to coat. Roast until browned and tender, 35 to 40 minutes, turning the squash pieces after 20 minutes so they cook evenly. Let cool.
• Prepare the broccoli rabe: Roughly cut up the rabe into 1-inch pieces. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add sliced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in broccoli rabe and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, tossing frequently, until just barely tender, 5 to 7 minutes. If the garlic starts to get very brown before the rabe is tender, add a tablespoon of water to the pan if necessary. Let cool.
• Prepare the ricotta mixture: In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, egg, 1/4 cup chopped basil, the black pepper and the nutmeg.
• Cook the penne in a large pot of very well-salted water for 4 minutes (it won't even be halfway cooked, but will finish cooking in the timpano). Drain and put penne into a large bowl. Toss with the sauce, sausage, mozzarella, and salami or prosciutto.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter bottom and sides of a 3- to 4-quart Dutch oven.
• Assemble the timpano: Brush any clinging cornmeal or flour from the pasta sheets if necessary. Use pasta sheets to cover bottom and up the sides of the pot, patching as needed to make sure there are no gaps. Leave any overhanging dough draped over the sides to help cover the filling.
• Spoon 1/3 of the pasta mixture into the bottom of the pot. For the best presentation when you cut this, you could try to make sure that all the penne face the same way, but it's not essential. Top with the ricotta mixture, then another 1/3 of the pasta. Arrange squash pieces on top of pasta, and tuck broccoli rabe around and over squash. Finish with a layer of the remaining pasta mixture.
• Tuck the overhanging lasagna over the filling, and fill in any gaps with more pasta dough. You want to make sure the whole top is covered. Brush top of the timpano with water to make sure that the casserole is tightly sealed. Cover the Dutch oven with its cover or with foil.
• Transfer pot to oven and bake for 1 hour. Uncover pot and continue cooking until it reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees, about 15 to 20 minutes longer. Let it cool, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Run a butter knife along the edges of the pot to make sure the timpano isn't sticking. Place a large platter or cutting board over the pot and flip, unmolding the timpano from the pot. Let cool 10 to 20 minutes more before slicing and serving.