Transport yourself to the idyllic shores of Liguria, Italy, and embark on a culinary journey to discover the essence of "trofie al pesto genovese." This traditional Ligurian dish, rooted in the heart of the Italian Riviera, is a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. The marriage of trofie, a short, twisted pasta, and pesto genovese, a vibrant green sauce made from fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, garlic, and olive oil, creates a dish that is both rustic and sophisticated. Get ready to immerse yourself in the history, ingredients, and techniques that make "trofie al pesto genovese" a beloved dish that captures the essence of Italy's culinary heritage.
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TRIOFE AL PESTO GENOVESE
Don't be intimidated by homemade pasta: it takes just two ingredients -- semolina and water -- to make these hand-formed, torpedo-shaped triofe noodles from "The Geometry of Pasta," by Caz Hildebrand and Jacob Kenedy.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Dinner Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Make the Pesto: Place garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Crush using the flat side of a large knife. Continue crushing using both sides of the knife in a back-and-forth fashion until a paste is formed. Transfer garlic paste to the bowl of a food processor along with basil and both cheeses; process until smooth. Add pine nuts and pulse until almost smooth. Add olive oil and butter; let stand for about 3 minutes and season with salt and pepper. Pesto may be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Make the Triofe: Place semolina on a work surface and make a well in the center. Add 6 tablespoons water to well. Slowly incorporate the semolina with the water until well combined (if mixture seems to dry, add water, one teaspoon at a time, as necessary); knead to form a dough. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
- Working on a large clean wooden board, break off a walnut-sized piece of dough and roll to make a long, 1/8-inch-thick strand; cut each strand into 1 1/2-inch-long pieces.
- Working with one piece of dough at a time, use the flat side of a knife at a 45-degree angle to both the board and the dough, and draw it across and along the dough to create a deep, spiraling groove along the length. Grooves should extend within the dough, and inner surface will be rough and outside smooth. The dough has now been rolled and stretched into a rectangle in the process, the angle of the knife causing the dough to roll up diagonally, creating the torpedo shape. Repeat process with remaining pieces. Repeat process until all the dough is used; set aside and let dry slightly, about 20 minutes.
- Alternatively, roll one piece of pasta between your hands to start the torpedo shape. One by one, roll the lengths between the ball of your palm and the board with considerable pressure, sliding your hand along the length as you go. The friction should cause the strip to flatten and twist into an irregular helix. Add a little more pressure at the start and finish to taper the ends and create a torpedo shape. You need to have friction between the dough and the board; if dough skids, dampen board slightly. Repeat process with remaining pieces. Repeat process until all the dough is used; set aside and let dry slightly, about 20 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat; generously salt and return to a boil. Add pasta, potatoes, and green beans; cook until pasta, potatoes, and green beans are tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and serve with a dollop of pesto.
TROFIE AL PESTO
Enjoy the meditative process of making your own trofie pasta and then savor the results once cooked and tossed with a bright and herby homemade pesto.
Provided by Rachel Lerro
Time 1h35m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine flour, 1/4 cup water, eggs, olive oil, and salt for pasta in the bowl of a food processor; pulse a few times until just combined. Pinch dough to see if it sticks together and forms a small clump. If it's dry or crumbly, add more water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, just until the dough forms a ball.
- Dump dough onto a floured surface. Knead until dough is smooth and bounces back when you poke it. Wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove dough from the refrigerator and pull off a small chunk, about 1/2 teaspoon or smaller. Place dough at the bottom of a wooden cutting board and starting with the tips or your fingers, firmly roll up the board, like you are rolling the dough into a tube. Once the dough is at the base of your palm, keep pressure on it and pull it back and down the board, diagonally at a 45-degree angle to create a spiral shape. Repeat until all dough has been shaped.
- Combine garlic and pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor; process until sandy in texture. Add basil and oil and process until smooth. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until combined. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add trofie and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
- Toss cooked trofie with pesto and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 405.4 calories, Carbohydrate 33.5 g, Cholesterol 67.9 mg, Fat 25.4 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 10.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.8 g, Sodium 204.9 mg, Sugar 0.5 g
TROFIE ALLA GENOVESE
Pesto pasta combined with potatoes and french green beans... hands down one of the tastiest vegetarian dishes I've ever had. Homemade trofie takes it to a whole other level, but I didn't feel like getting into all that here. Not quite authentic?-the lemon and vegetable stock are mine.
Provided by Brian Genest
Time 2h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Start by making the pesto: Heat a dry pan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and roast, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a food processor.
- Add basil, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup olive oil, and garlic to the pine nuts; pulse until pesto is smooth. Add more olive oil if pesto is too thick. Season with salt and pepper and let rest for 1 hour.
- Prepare pasta: Bring vegetable stock to a boil in a large pot. Add haricots verts and boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to a simmer, add potato, and cook until both are fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon, leaving broth in the pot.
- Add trofie pasta to the broth and boil until tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 8 minutes for dry pasta and 3 to 4 minutes for fresh. Drain.
- Combine potatoes, green beans, and pasta with the reserved pesto and toss together. Plate immediately with a wedge of lemon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 470.2 calories, Carbohydrate 26.3 g, Cholesterol 8.8 mg, Fat 37.5 g, Fiber 5.6 g, Protein 10.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 437.2 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
Tips:
- Use fresh basil for the pesto. This will give it the best flavor.
- If you don't have pine nuts, you can substitute walnuts or almonds.
- You can add a little bit of lemon juice to the pesto for a brighter flavor.
- Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente, or cooked through but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Serve the pasta with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil leaves.
Conclusion:
Triofe al pesto genovese is a simple and delicious pasta dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. The pesto is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, and it is tossed with cooked pasta. The dish is then topped with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. This pasta dish is a great way to enjoy the flavors of summer, and it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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