FOOD OBSESSIONS
FOOD OBSESSIONS
Ever Had PAMPANELLA ?
It's an Obscure ITALIAN DISH
From an OBSCURE REGION Of ITALY ? "MOLISE" !
Pampanella is a traditional pork dish found in the Molise region of Italy. It is relatively unknown dish elsewhere but much loved in the region. There are countless restaurants and street vendors who offer up the bright red pork in various combinations. Various prime cuts of meat are used from the ribs, loin, butt, shoulder to the belly. The meat is marinated in a generous paprika mixture, made from local varieties of chilli) then slowly roasted.
Like porchetta, pampanella is often served as a sandwich alongside pickles and greens and it's how I first discovered it in Italy. From a wonderful butchers in the beautiful commune of San Martino in Pensilis, Molise - I devoured my sandwich in seconds and was super excited to learn how to make it at home.
Pampanella gets its name from the 'Pampini' leaves (vine/grape leaves) which were traditionally used to wrap the meat for roasting. Nowadays, parchment paper or foil wraps the pork, but the name stuck. It's an amazing dish that emphasises just how diverse and exciting regional Italian food can be. If you're not familiar with Pampanella Molisana, now's the time to make friends!
The APEROL SPRITZ
The APEROL SPRITZ
"A Brief History"
Often described as an Italian sunset in a glass, the Aperol Spritz originated in the city of Padua and has become one of the most famous cocktails from Italy. The Aperol liqueur became a beloved apéritif in Padua and out of its rising popularity the Aperol Spritz was born during the chic 1950s in Northern Italy.
In 1919, Luigi and Silvio Barbieri created Padua’s famous Aperol and as this bitter apéritif rose to fame, so did experimentation. During the 1950s, Veneto was at the peak of chic fashion and gastronomic delicacies, allowing the optimum moment for the Aperol Spritz to enter Paduan society.
Spritz is a form of cocktail as opposed to a singular drink, the term originates from the German Spritzen. The origin of the Spritz dates back to the 19th-century when the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s owned the region. When Austro-Hungarian soldiers first tasted Italian wines, they found them too strong for their taste and subsequently spritzed their glasses with water to dilute the flavor.
The years leading up to the 1950s saw rigorous advertising of the Barbieris’ apéritif, resulting in Aperol taking over Campari in popularity. Following a TV advert displaying the Aperol Spritz’s recipe, the cocktail soon rose to fame as a luxe drink for lunchtime aperitivo and summer evenings. By early 2003, the Campari Group had purchased Aperol and marketed the Spritz as a cocktail for the trendy and fashionable members of Venetian society.
The beauty of the Aperol Spritz lies in the simplicity of its ingredients, which extracts the quality of each native component. The foundation of this cocktail is Aperol from Padua, with Veneto’s adored Prosecco and chilled soda. The Aperol’s vibrant orange hue is slightly diluted with sparkling wine, painting the Spritz with a softer sunset glow perfect for summer evenings.
HOW to Make an APEROL SPRITZ
If you're looking for a hot and cozy fall recipe, look no further than Rao's. Known for its exclusivity and esteemed reputation, New York City's Rao's restaurant has been serving up authentic Italian food since 1896.
Here, Dino Gatto, the Executive Chef of New York City's Rao's Restaurant, shares his tips for how to make the juiciest meatballs:
For mouthwatering meatballs it's important to only use the freshest and best quality products.
In this recipe, you will find that we add the water, cheese and breadcrumbs in layers, which allows the breadcrumbs to be separate from the water. If you add the water, then breadcrumbs ... by the time you get started to mix, the water will be absorbed into the bread and will be hard to mix and dry, which also makes it hard to roll.
The longer the meatballs simmer in the sauce, the softer they will be inside and also have the crust from them being fried.
RAOS MEATBALL Recipe :
Ingredients :
1 pound Ground Beef
1/2 pound Ground Veal
1/2 pound Ground Pork
2 Eggs (beaten)
1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoon fresh chopped Italian Parsley
1 teaspoon each Sea Salt & ground Black Pepper
1 Garlic clove, peeled and minced fine
2 cups fresh Breadcrumbs
1 cup water
1 cup Olive Oil
1 Garlic clove, mashed
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the Beef, Veal, Pork, Parmesan, parsley, salt & black pepper, minced garlic, and mix together using your hands (don't overmix).
2. Add the bread breadcrumbs to the meat, and combine. Slowly add the water a little at a time as you mix with your hands.
3. Shape the mixture into 3" Meatballs.
4. Add the Olive Oil to a large frying pan with the mashed Garlic. Cook the Garlic until it is lightly browned. Remove the garlic and discard.
5. Fry the Meatballs in batches, browning on all sides.
6. Frying the Meatballs in batches, remove the browned Meatballs, and set aside on a plate.
7. Once all the Meatballs have browned, cook the Meatballs in Tomato Sauce for 15 - 20 minutes, at a slow simmer.
Serve with Spaghetti or other Pasta, or make a Nice Meatball Sandwich.
Enjoy !
The WORLD'S BEST SUNDAY SAUCE
alla BELLINO alla PACINO
MEATBALL PARM MONDAYS