Mint Cavatelli Food

SPICY DUCK MEATBALLS WITH MINT CAVATELLI

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and 3 cloves garlic. Cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes; remove from heat and let cool.
• Add onion and garlic mixture to a large bowl, along with, ground duck, basil, chile sauce, panko, and eggs. Knead mixture until well combined; season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to refrigerator and let chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove duck mixture from refrigerator and form into 1 1/2- to 2-inch balls. Transfer to a baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to oven and cook for 10 minutes.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining 2 cloves garlic, 1 shallot, and plum tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add wine and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Add chicken stock and thyme; let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer set over another large saucepan, discarding solids. Transfer meatballs to liquid and place over medium heat. Let meatballs simmer until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 2 shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add water spinach, meatballs and their cooking liquid, cavatelli, butter, mint, and chives; let cook for 2 minutes.
• Divide mixture evenly between 4 bowls. Sprinkle over freshly grated parmesan cheese and crack a quail egg into each bowl; serve immediately.

CAVATELLI WITH PEAS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain.
• Heat the olive oil, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water, 1 teaspoon pepper and the peas in the same pot over medium-high heat. Cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until the peas are tender and the butter melts, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Return the pasta to the pot along with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan and 3/4 cup cooking water. Stir until creamy, adding the remaining cooking water as needed to loosen. Stir in the arugula, basil and mint. Divide among bowls.
• Mix the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Dollop on each serving of pasta. Drizzle with olive oil and season with more pepper.

CAVATELLI WITH SARDINIAN MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large deep frying pan or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat.
• Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a fork, until it is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to moderately low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Stir in the onion and garlic.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, mint, parsley, water, salt, and 1 pinch of the saffron. Simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the cavatelli with the remaining pinch saffron until just done, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the cavatelli and toss with the meat sauce, the basil, the reserved pasta water, and the cheese.
• Serve with additional Pecorino Romano.

ENGLISH PEA CAVATELLI

Steps:

• Simmer shelled peas and mint in coconut milk until tender (30-45 minutes).
• Purée peas and mint mixture in a blender until smooth. Season and set aside. If needed, add a little water to make smooth.
• In a sauté pan, crisp the pancetta on a low flame until fat is rendered and pancetta is crispy.
• While cooking the pancetta, boil the pasta to perfect al dente.
• Strain pasta and toss with the crispy pancetta on a low flame.
• Add the pea purée, cauliflower and two tablespoons of water and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring constantly (cook until purée evenly coats the pasta like a sauce).
• Turn off the heat and toss with freshly grated pecorino.
• Garnish with watercress and serve.