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Pasta with Breadcrumbs (Pasta con Mollica di Pane)

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Also known as pasta ca’ muddica in Sicily, this southern Italian dish is rustic food at its best. My version enhances it with walnuts and diced tomatoes. Though the breadcrumbs stood in for cheese when the latter wasn’t affordable, feel free to serve with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound linguine
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 8 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 
  • 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs, preferably made from day-old Italian bread
  • 2 ounces walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)
  • One 2-ounce can anchovy fillets, drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1 cup diced canned tomatoes or 8 ounces fresh cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the pasta and salt; set a timer for al dente, about 9 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add 3 tablespoons olive oil and the garlic and sauté until tender. Add the breadcrumbs and walnuts, if using, and cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Step 2

In the same hot pan, add the rest of the olive oil and the anchovies, stirring constantly until the anchovies dissolve into the oil. Add the pepper flakes. Whisk in one cup of the water from the pasta pot. When the pasta is ready, transfer it to the frying pan with tongs or a Chinese strainer and swirl in the sauce to coat. Add the tomatoes and parsley. If it’s too dry, add more pasta water, 1/2 cup at a time. Fold in half the breadcrumb mixture. Remove the pan from the heat and taste, adding salt and pepper as desired. Plate and top each serving with more breadcrumbs and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serves 4

Brussels Sprouts Crostini with Pancetta and Balsamic

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Although they’re named after a Belgian city, this popular member of the brassica family is thought to have been first cultivated in Rome. To shave the sprouts safely, I recommend using the thin
slicing disk on your food processor—not a mandoline or knife.

Ingredients

  • 12 slices of day-old Italian bread or a French baguette (sliced on a diagonal)
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for making the crostini and drizzling
  • 2 ounces pancetta or bacon, finely diced
  • 1 pound small brussels sprouts, trimmed and thinly shaved
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly and finely grated
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar di Modena

Directions

Step 1

Brush one side of each slice of bread with olive oil. Heat a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Working in two batches, if necessary, arrange the bread slices (oiled side down) in the pan and lightly brown, turning once—about 5 minutes total. Transfer in a single layer to a rimmed sheet pan (again, oiled side up) and set aside. Do not wash the skillet.

Step 2

Reheat the skillet and fry the pancetta or bacon until crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Wipe out the pan, then reheat it. When the pan is hot, add the 3 tablespoons of olive oil, then the shaved brussels sprouts and the garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté the sprouts until tender but still bright green, 6 to 8 minutes. Return the pancetta to the pan and toss.

Step 3

To build the crostini, sprinkle some cheese on each toast. (Work on the sheet pan to keep your work station clean.) Top with a couple of spoonfuls of the hot brussels sprouts mixture. Drizzle with the balsamic and, if desired, more olive oil. Serve warm.

Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer

Bloody Mary

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Nothing sets the tone for a festive day—or a leisurely one—better than a well-made Bloody Mary. It starts with a homemade mix with just the right amounts of spice and acid—so much zestier than commercial mixes. And the bright and bountiful skewers will really impress your guests.

Ingredients

For the mix:

  • One 46-ounce can or jar tomato juice, preferably the Sacramento brand
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (3 or 4 lemons)
  • 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup prepared horseradish, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt

To serve:

  • Eight 6-inch bamboo skewers with your choice of cubes of salami or cheese, pepperoncini, olives, pickled cherry peppers, pickled cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes
  • 8 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
    use, plus more to rim the glasses
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • 2 cups vodka, divided use (optional)
  • 1 large lemon, cut into 8 wedges
  • 8 leafy celery stalks, preferably from the heart

Directions

Step 1

Place all the ingredients for the mix in a large pitcher and stir to combine. Taste, adjusting the seasonings as necessary. Cover and chill.

Step 2

Thread your choice of garnishes on bamboo skewers and cover with plastic wrap until serving.
(Or allow your guests to assemble their own from a platter of choices.)

Step 3

Pour a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and coarse salt in two separate shallow bowls. Rim tall glasses with olive oil and salt. Just before serving, fill the glasses with ice.

Step 4

Stir the Bloody Mary mix well before using. For each cocktail, combine 3/4 cup of the mix, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and 1/4 cup vodka, if using, in a cocktail shaker. Make sure the lid is on tight. Shake vigorously for several seconds, then pour into the ice-filled glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge, a celery stalk, and a prepared skewer.

Serves 8

Flatbreads Your Way

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

What makes a flatbread different than a pizza? Traditional flatbread dough doesn’t require yeast, so the prep time is faster than that of the yeasted dough for pizza. My approach takes the best of both worlds by using freshly prepared pizza dough, available at most supermarkets, and shaping it into two thin rectangles—flatbreads are often just a 1/4-inch thick. After a 5-minute pre-bake, it’s up to you to customize the toppings to your liking.

Quick Tips:

Have your dough at room temperature for faster and more even crisping in the oven.

Be sure any raw meat, such as sausage or steak, is fully cooked separately—the time in the oven won’t be enough to cook it thoroughly.

For a simple sauce, use 1/3 cup of crushed San Marzano tomatoes mixed with 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano per flatbread.

Charcuterie board favorites as well as ingredients from your favorite salads, such as Salade Nicoise, Greek Salad, and Turkish Shepherd’s Salad, all taste great on baked flatbreads.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, white or whole wheat, at room temperature (multiply as needed for additional servings)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Your choice of toppings…

Ingredients

  • Classic Margherita—crushed tomatoes, sea salt, basil, and mozzarella slices
  • New Caprese—pesto, burrata slices, cherry tomato halves, and balsamic vinegar; finish with basil after baking
  • White—ricotta, mozzarella, and fontina; finish with shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano after baking
  • Tomato sauce, sautéed sausage chunks, steamed broccoli florets, and smoked mozzarella slices
  • Mushrooms, caramelized onions, and shredded fontina
  • Aioli, sliced steak, gorgonzola, and pine nuts; finish with balsamic vinegar after baking
  • Prosciutto, slices of goat cheese and figs, roasted squash or beet cubes, and hazelnuts
  • Skyr or sour cream, smoked fish, capers, and red onion rings; finish with fresh dill after baking
  • Tiny clams (canned), garlic, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salami or pepperoni slices, cherry tomato halves, quartered artichoke hearts, and dried oregano

Directions

Step 1

Note: The dough can be fully baked for 10-15 minutes, if you want to top it with ingredients that don’t need cooking, or pre-baked, as described below, to get it crusty before you layer on fixings such as cheese to be melted. After baking, sprinkle on delicate ingredients that would quickly burn to a crisp in a 450°F or higher oven, such as arugula, cheese shavings, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar along with more olive oil.

Step 2

Heat your oven (not the broiler) to its highest setting, usually between 450°F and 500°F. Prepare a rimmed sheet pan by coating it with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Step 3

Cut your dough in half and shape into rectangles with your fingers or a rolling pin. Use your knuckles to make a dimple pattern across the dough and gently brush the surface with more oil; sprinkle lightly with the salt. 

Step 4

Bake for about 5-8 minutes or until firm and light brown. Remove from the oven and top as desired. If using one of the above combinations, add everything except any finishing ingredient, in the order given. 

Step 5

Return to the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted. Top with any finishes and another drizzle of olive oil, and serve.

Yields 2 servings