Margi Cintrano
Washing Up
Good Morning,THE VALLE D´ITRIA, located in between the towns of Martina Franca and Putignano in southern Puglia on the Adriatic, is a region that is extraordinaire, because it houses the most unusual buildings in the world, The Trulli ( pronounced truly ). The Trulli are Nationally Government Protected architectural dwellings, as well as Historical Preservation and documented with the International Patrimony of world monuments.
With this in mind, the town of Alberobello with its striking landscape as the rolling red clay earth, olive groves, wine estates and the dramatic skyline of Trulli, is a perfect place to spend a few days.
Here is their most famous Pasta dish called Rechietelle or Orechiette, which signifies an audio aparatus, or little ears. These indented little disks of pasta do indeed resemble little ears ...
Orecchiette con Cime e Rape *** One can prepare a basic pasta dough for home made and / or orecchiette can be purchased from a fine Italian grocer.
The Recipe ...
1 pound of fresh turnip or beetroot greens trimmed
5 tblsps Evoo
8 anchovies
1 red chili pepper or dry red chili or dry red pepper flakes
Garlic ( 1 or 2 cloves minced )
1 bay leaf
12 ounces of little ear shaped pasta, or one can substitute with Little Shells
1. cook greens in pot of salted boiling water until wilted 3 to 4 minutes
2. using slotted spoon, transfer greens to a strainer and drain extremely well. ( I have made this dish with fresh spinach )
3. reserve the cooking liquid in pot
4. squeeze greens dry
5. heat evoo in heavy large skillet over medium heat and add the: anchovies, chili pepper, garlic and bay leaf, sauté until the garlic is golden, 3 minutes.
6. add the greens and sauté to coat, about 2 minutes
7. discard the bay leaf and whole chili if used
8. return cooking liquid to a boil, and add the little ear pasta or little shells, and cook until tender however, firm to bite.
9) drain the pasta well and add to the greens and sauté to coat and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
*** serve with a lovely Prosecco or Lambrusco or Piemonte Red and crusty warm bread. One can sprinkle aged freshly grated pecorino or Reggiano parmesano. ENJOY.
Have a lovely wkend.
Margi. Cintrano.
Take a look at this video and you'll become a master in orecchiette making
