Tag: sauce

Pasta alla norma

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This traditionally Sicilian dish, supposedly named after Bellini’s opera ‘norma’. It offers a great vegetarian recipe; simple and with only a few ingredients but full of authentic Italian flavour. Ricotta salata, a fantastic dry salted ricotta is traditionally used for its pungent crumbly texture, but feta would substitute well, as would parmesan as we’ve done. It’s a super speedy nutritious meal to have on the dinner table in no time.

Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Skill level: Easy peasy
Costs: Cheap as chips

That’s goodtoknow

If you want a smoother sauce, blitz up the tinned tomatoes in a blender before adding to sauce. Alternatively try using tinned passata.

Ingredients

2 aubergines, cubed
2tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1tbspdried oregano
1tsp dried chili flakes
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
Large bunch of fresh basil, torn
2 cans chopped tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 500g pack of dried penne
Parmesan cheese, for garnishing

Method

First, fry the cubes of aubergines in batches in a hot pan adding oil as needed. Once all cooked, transfer to one pan and add garlic and cook for further 2mins. Sprinkle over oregano and chilli flakes. Add tomatoes and simmer for 10-15mins until thickened. Add half the torn basil leaves and take off heat. Set aside.
Meanwhile cook spaghetti according to packet instructions and strain, reserving a cup full of the cooking water.
Add spaghetti to pan of sauce and mix to coat well, adding the cooking water if needed to loosen. Serve in bowls with extra basil torn over the top and a grating of fresh parmesan.

By Sophie Rae

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Nutritional information

Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.

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That Other Meat Sauce

We did a classic Italian bolognese sauce not too long ago, which reminded me that I’ve actually never posted a basic, Italian-American meat sauce. This sauce goes by many names, including Sunday sauce, since that’s the day it’s traditionally made, but for me growing up, this was just called “sauce.”

This is one of those primal recipes that always follows the same procedure, yet almost never contains exactly the same ingredients. I was raised on a blend of beef, pork, and chicken, but any and all leftover proteins can, and must, be added to the pot.

Meatballs are a great choice; as are things like pigs feet, neck bones, and other similar cuts. The tougher the meat, the better it’s going to be in this sauce. Besides playing meat roulette, I’ll also switch different herbs like basil in and out, as well as include the occasional season vegetable.

You can also vary your results here with different tomato products. I went old-school and hand-crushed whole plums, but you can also use crushed or pureed tomatoes as well. The finer and smoother the tomatoes are processed, the thicker your sauce will be, so keep that in mind. Speaking of tomatoes; yes, it is much better to caramelize the tomato paste with the onions before you add the San Marzanos, but I didn’t because Grandma didn’t, and also, I forgot.

As long as you cook the meat long enough, and season thoughtfully, there’s really no way this sauce isn’t going to be great. So, while you may not have grown up in an Italian-American home, with this comforting sauce simmering on the stove every Sunday, your family still can. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 portions:

2 tbsp olive oil, divided

1 beef shank

2 pounds pork ribs

2 bone-in chicken thighs

1 diced onion

6 cloves garlic

3 (28-oz) cans San Marzano plum tomatoes, crushed or blended smooth
(Note – any canned tomato product will work. Try with pureed or already crushed tomatoes and save a step)

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 cups water, more as needed

2 tsp salt, or to taste

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tbsp chopped Italian parsley

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace and Gordon…

Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace and Gordon Ramsay BurGR at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Now Open For Lunch and Dinner

For the first time ever one chef opens two restaurants within one week of each other in two different casino resorts on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Chef Gordon Ramsay recently opened Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill inside Caesars Palace and Gordon Ramsay BurGr inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Conceptualized by the award-winning chef, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill offers a lively English pub experience. Photo credit: Erik Kabik. (PRNewsFoto/Caesars Palace Las Vegas)

Click the link above for the full story.