Rigatoni Amatriciana

We may have a new favorite pasta dish in my house! I have already made this dish a couple of times. We didn’t even miss the garlic. 😉 It is an incredible version of the classic- a perfect weeknight dish.

The recipe was adapted from a Food and Wine “staff favorite” recipe, inspired by sommelier Arjav Ezekiel, co-owner of Birdie’s in Austin, contributed by Anna Theoktisto. We ate it with our favorite garlic bread and green salad, of course.

Yield: Serves 4 to 5

• 2 T olive oil
• 1 medium or large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 (4 oz) package chopped pancetta
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 (28 oz) can whole plum tomatoes (I used San Marzano)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pound uncooked rigatoni pasta
• 1 1/2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely shredded (about 2/3 cup), plus more for serving
• 3/4 ounces pecorino Romano cheese, finely shredded (about 1/4 cup), plus more for serving
• 2 T unsalted butter
• finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

1. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium. (I used a large enameled cast iron pan.)
2. Add onion, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes.
3. Stir in pancetta; cook, stirring often, until pancetta begins to render, about 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Stir in crushed red pepper.
5. Using your hands or a wooden spoon, crush tomatoes; add tomatoes and their juices to skillet. Bring to a boil over medium; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring often, until flavors meld and mixture thickens, about 20 minutes.
6. Stir in salt. Remove from heat.
7. While sauce cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high. Add rigatoni, and cook according to package instructions for al dente, about 13 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
8. Add rigatoni, 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino Romano, and butter to sauce in skillet.
9. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and coats pasta, about 2 minutes.
10. Remove from heat, and garnish with parsley. Serve with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano and pecorino Romano cheeses, as desired.

Citrus Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower with Queso Cotija Dressing

As soon as I saw Mexican chef Pati Jinich prepare this dish on her PBS show, I had to make it. 🙂 I bought beautiful purple cauliflower and purple broccoli at the farm stand to make it extra special. We ate it with Mexican-Style Chipotle-Lime Pork Cutlets.

The salty, cheesy sauce was absolutely incredible. I loved how the vegetables were sliced into steaks instead of florets as well. I trimmed the tough outer portion of each stem but would remove even more next time to make that portion more tender.

This recipe was adapted from Pati’s Mexican Table and patijinich.com, via kcet.org. It was on an episode featuring dishes inspired by Isla Mujeres. I substituted creme fraiche for the Mexican crema. I also modified the method and proportions. Amazing!

Yield: Serves 6

For the Vegetables:

• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (I used 2 limes)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (I used 1 large naval orange)
• 3 chopped chiles de arbol or 1/2 to 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing/drizzling
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pounds broccoli, cut into 1/4″ vertical slices, including thick part of stem (I used 2 large heads)
• 2 pounds cauliflower, cut into 1/4″ vertical slices, including thick part of stem (I used 1 large head)

For the Queso Cojita Dressing:

• 1/2 cup crumbled queso cotija
• 2/3 cup Mexican crema or creme fraîche
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used Canola oil)
• 2 tsp sherry vinegar
• 2 T water
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

To Prepare the Vegetables:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. ( I set my oven to convection roast.)
2. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. In a glass measuring cup with a spout, mix the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes (or chile de arbol), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
4. Place the cauliflower and broccoli steaks on the prepared baking sheets in a single layer, making sure that they are not crowded.
5. Evenly pour the orange juice mixture all over the vegetables.
6. Place in the oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until well roasted and considerably charred. Remove from the oven and set aside.

To Make the Dressing & To Serve:

1. While the vegetables are roasting, combine the queso cotija, Mexican crema (or creme fraîche), vegetable oil, sherry vinegar, water, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the jar of a blender or mixer. Puree until smooth. (I used a Vitamix.)
2. Serve the broccoli and cauliflower on a large platter and ladle the queso cotija right on top, or let your guests spoon sauce onto their plates and dip their vegetables in the sauce to their liking. (I served the sauce in a bowl on the side.)

Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Growing up, my mom frequently made what we referred to as “white spaghetti” (aka spaghetti without red sauce!). The pasta was coated with garlicky olive oil and topped with crispy garlic slices, broccoli florets, and Parmesan cheese. Classic. 🙂

This version is from Old World Italian: Recipes & Secrets from Our Travels in Italy by Mimi Thorisson. The recipe is included in the “Roman Pastas” section of this beautiful book. It is a little bit more indulgent than my mom’s rendition because it contains more cheese as well as heavy cream. I loved that the broccoli was chopped and incorporated into the creamy sauce.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 1 large head broccoli and stems (about 1 pound or 450g), cut into small florets and coarsely chopped
• 1 pound (500g) dried spaghetti
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 to 2 garlic clove(s), minced
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cups (115g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the broccoli and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes. Remove with a kitchen spider or slotted spoon and set aside, keeping the water boiling to cook the pasta.
3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook to al dente according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 2 cups (500ml) of the pasta cooking water. Return the pasta to the empty pot and set aside.
4. Chop the onion and mince the garlic in a food processor. Set aside.
5. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
6. Add the onion and sauté until tender and golden, about 5 minutes.
7. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
8. Add the broccoli and season with salt and pepper.
9. Pour the cream over the mixture and cook for 15 seconds. Remove from heat.
10. Transfer the broccoli mixture to a food processor and process until roughly creamy.
11. Add the broccoli sauce and a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water to the pot of pasta and set the pot over medium heat. Cook, tossing frequently, adding more pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency, until the pasta is well coated, 1 to 2 minutes.
12. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving bowl, if desired. Scatter the grated Parmesan on top and serve immediately.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash

When I recently received spaghetti squash in my CSA box, my farm newsletter included a link to this Food 52 recipe. I had to make it after reading the first line of the article- “When you think spaghetti squash do you think snoozefest?” Maybe? I definitely hadn’t cooked or eaten spaghetti squash in recent memory.

This recipe was adapted from Food 52, contributed by Checker. I modified the proportions and method. The results were cheesy, buttery, and subtly sweet. Easy and simple to prepare and no longer a snoozefest! 😉

• 1 medium-sized spaghetti squash
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 4 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• 4 to 6 T freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pinch coarse salt, plus more to taste

1. Preheat your oven to 400° F. I set my oven to convection roast.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 
3. Halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
4. Brush the inside of the squash liberally with the melted butter and sprinkle sugar all over the insides. 
5. Place the squash cut side down on the lined baking sheet. Brush a little of the butter over the skin. (I used the residual butter that was left on the basting brush.)
6. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the skin of the squash is starting to show some brown blisters.
7. Use a fork to scrape out the strings of squash, loosening it so that it’s a spaghetti-like consistency. 
8. Toss with grated Parmesan, season with salt, and serve. 

Mexican Layer Dip

My daughter recently had a camp out with a few friends in our backyard. They slept in a giant, 14-person tent. What fun! 🙂 The camping was combined with another event on their summer bucket list- a “dip-night.” (inspired by TikTok 😉 )

The girls each contributed a different dip, savory or sweet, to create the feast. We made this Mexican layer dip and served it with tortilla chips and Trader Joe’s corn dippers. The recipe was adapted from ThePioneerWoman.com. I loved that her version incorporated warm beans as the base of the dip. It was an easy crowd-pleaser.

• 1 can refried beans (I used Trader Joe’s Fat Free Refried Beans)
• hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Cholula, to taste (I omitted it for this crowd)
• 1 can diced green chilies (I used Trader Joe’s mild green chilies)
• ground cumin, to taste
• 3/4 to 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (mild or sharp)
• 1 cup sour cream
• freshly made guacamole (about 1 cup)
• 3/4 to 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1 cup Pico de Gallo (I used Trader Joe’s)
• 1 can sliced black olives (I omitted them)
• kernels from 1 ear of corn
• chopped cilantro, for garnish, optional
• sliced or diced jalapeños, for garnish, optional
• tortilla chips (and/or other corn chips), for serving

1. Begin by heating the refried beans in a small pan over medium-low heat.
2. Add one or two dashes of hot sauce, if using, and a small can of undrained diced green chilies. Stir well.
3. Sprinkle the bean-chile mixture with a little bit of ground cumin. Stir to incorporate.
4. Spread the beans on the bottom of a glass bowl or high-sided or wide serving dish.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
6. Next, dollop the sour cream over the cheese. Spread it into a single layer, as much as possible, being careful not to disturb the cheese underneath.
7. The next layer is the guacamole. (I used my favorite guacamole recipe (link above) using 2 avocados and garlic-chipotle salsa. This time, I omitted our traditional add-ins of chopped tomatoes and red onions.)
8. Next, sprinkle an even layer of shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the guacamole.
9. Top with a generous layer of Pico de Gallo.
10. Sprinkle chopped black olives over the top, if using.
11. Microwave an ear of fresh corn for 1 minute on high. When cool enough to handle, place upright in a bowl and slice of the kernels. Sprinkle the kernels over the top as the final layer.
12. Garnish with jalapeños and cilantro, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Summer Bucatini with Buttery Zucchini Sauce

I love trying new ways to use summer zucchini. Making pasta sauce out of grated zucchini is absolute genius! This dish gobbled up all of the zucchini that I received in my CSA share- amazing.

This recipe was adapted from Smitten Kitchen.com. I used bucatini (our favorite) instead of spaghetti. I also modified the proportions and method. It was a vegetarian crowd-pleaser. Super quick to prepare too.

Yield: Serves 5 to 6

• 3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for pasta water, and to taste
• 16 ounces (1 pound, 450 grams) bucatini, cooked al dente (I used De Cecco)(can substitute with spaghetti, linguini, or fettuccine)
• 2 cups (470 ml) pasta water, reserved
• 2 1/2 to 3 pounds (about 1100 to 1300 grams) zucchini, trimmed, coarsely grated (I used 3 large zucchini- about 8 cups grated)
• 12 tablespoons (170 grams, 1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 10 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1 generous cup (90 grams) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• fresh basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons (about 2 large handfuls)

1. Mince the garlic cloves in a food processor. Set aside.
2. Coarsely grate the zucchini in a food processor, emptying the bowl as necessary. Set aside.
3. Melt butter in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. (I used an enameled cast iron pot.)
4. Add the garlic, stirring it into the butter for one minute.
5. Add the zucchini, salt, and red pepper. Cook the zucchini, stirring from time to time, for 13 to 15 minutes. It will first let off a puddle liquid, the liquid will cook off, and the zucchini will become soft and concentrated. If the zucchini begins to brown, reduce the heat slightly.
6. Stir frequently for 2 more minutes until it reaches an almost spreadable consistency.
7. Meanwhile, boil your pasta in well-salted water until it’s 1 minute shy of fully cooked. Before you drain it, reserve 2 cup of the pasta cooking water and set it aside. (I cooked my pasta for 9 minutes.)
8. Pour in 1 cup of the reserved pasta water into the zucchini and butter mixture scraping up any browned bits.
9. Add the drained pasta, and cook together for 2 minutes. Use tongs to pull up the zucchini butter sauce into the pasta strands, tossing frequently, and adding some or all of the remaining pasta water as needed to loosen.
10. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.
11. Incorporate a generous half of the parmesan and basil and mix, then transfer to a serving bowl, if desired. (I served the pasta from my cast iron pan!)
12. Garnish with remaining parmesan and basil. Serve.

Lemony Pecorino-Ricotta Dip with Broccolini

Broccolini is one of the most prized items that I receive in my CSA share. Eating it with a cheesy dip was a wonderful way to enjoy it.

This recipe was adapted from Martha Stewart Living. We ate the leftover dip with pita chips- which was also a good vehicle. It was also delicious with sliced radishes. Easy and tasty.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer

• 1 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 2/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 2 T extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• broccolini, for serving
• pita chips, for serving

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil; season with salt. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
2. Blanch the broccolini in the salted, boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, until bright green and tender. Remove and place in the ice water until cool. Drain, pat dry with paper towels, and set aside to continue to dry while you prepare the dip.
3. Combine the Pecorino, ricotta, 2 T olive oil, and lemon juice.
4. Season with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
5. Drizzle with olive oil and more pepper. (I used Tuscan herb olive oil for the drizzle.)
6. Serve with blanched broccolini and/or pita chips.