George Zakarian Food

BUCATINI CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a high-sided pan filled with water to a boil. Season liberally with salt. Place the bucatini in the water.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan, then add the pancetta. Cook until the pancetta has rendered and the meat is caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and about 1 tablespoon black pepper to the pan to toast, about 1 minute. Add a ladle of pasta water to stop the cooking process and let simmer on low heat, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and egg yolk in a bowl. Add the Parmesan and Pecorino-Romano and whisk to combine. Slowly add a ladle of the pasta water to temper the eggs. Set aside. When the pasta is al dente, add the pasta to the pancetta pan straight from the water. Remove from the heat and add freshly cracked pepper to taste. Add the egg mixture and toss gently to coat. If the sauce gets too thick, add some additional pasta water. Garnish with a generous sprinkling of Pecorino-Romano and a drizzle of olive oil.

CHARRED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND MAPLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cook the bacon in a large cast-iron pan in the oven or on the stovetop until browned and crisp and the fat has rendered out, about 10 minutes. Set the bacon aside on a cutting board to let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
• Arrange the Brussels sprouts in a single layer in concentric circles, cut-side down, in the bacon fat in the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until the sprouts begin to caramelize, about 4 minutes . When they begin to brown, transfer the pan to the oven and roast until charred and tender, about 15 minutes.
• Return the pan to medium heat. Transfer the sprouts to a bowl, leaving some fat behind. Add the shallots and cumin to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the shallots soften and the cumin smells fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the maple syrup, mustard and salt and pepper to taste, and whisk until bubbly. Add the sprouts to the sauce and remove the pan from the heat. Add the chives and stir to coat the sprouts in the sauce. Transfer to a serving plate.
• Chop the bacon and sprinkle on top.