Cornmeal Pasta Food

CORNMEAL PASTA

Steps:

• Place corn, eggs, oil and salt in food processor or blender. Cover and process until smooth. Add flour and cornmeal. Cover and process about 10 seconds or until dough leaves side of bowl and can be pressed together with fingers. Remove dough and press into a ball. Cover dough with plastic wrap or foil. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Divide dough in half. Roll one-half of dough with rolling pin into rectangle 1/8 to 1/16-inch thick on lightly floured surface. Loosely fold rectangle lengthwise into thirds; cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips for fettuccine, 1/8-inch strips for linguine. Hang pasta on drying rack or lightly floured towels to dry. Repeat with remaining dough.
• In 6-quart saucepan, heat 4 quarts water to boiling; add pasta. Boil uncovered 2 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until firm but tender. Drain pasta; do not rinse.

CORNMEAL SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Whisk together flour, polenta, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk together eggs, milk, and fromage blanc with a mixer on medium speed. Reduce speed to low; whisk in flour mixture. Raise speed to medium-high; whisk until thick and gooey, about 2 minutes.
• Working in batches and using a rubber spatula, gradually press batter through a large-holed colander into boiling water. Boil until spaetzle float to top, about 1 minute; scoop out using a fine sieve. Rinse under cold water; drain.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add spaetzle; season with salt and pepper. Brown, tossing often, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; toss in dill.

PASTA POMODORO FOR TWO

Steps:

• Puree the tomatoes using an immersion blender or food processor. Set aside.
• In a saucepot over medium heat, combine the olive oil, pepper flakes and garlic. Gently toast the garlic until golden brown, being careful not to burn it. Add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer; simmer 5 to 8 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook for 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
• Add the pasta to the pot with the sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the butter, half of both cheeses and half of the basil and cook, tossing frequently, until the pasta is nicely coated. Season with salt if necessary.
• Transfer to a serving bowl, top with the remaining cheese and basil and drizzle with olive oil.

CORNMEAL OR POLENTA PASTA

Steps:

• Food-processor mixing recommended, following the directions on page 160.
• Cut in wide strips of polenta pasta.
• Dress with a simple tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.
• Also good with Brodetto with Lobster and Corn (page 299).