Pasta Pizzaiola Food

STEAK PIZZAIOLA PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, season the steak with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over high heat until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the steak and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Remove to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet along with the bell peppers, red onion, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, stir in the wine and cook until almost evaporated, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the pasta and any steak juices to the sauce; toss until warmed through, about 1 minute, adding the reserved cooking water as necessary to loosen. Season with salt and pepper and stir in 3/4 cup basil. Divide among bowls. Thinly slice the steak and serve on the pasta. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup basil.

PORK CHOPS PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Cook the sausages: Heat a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat. When the skillet is hot, use a pair of metal tongs to arrange the sausages in a single layer. (There is no need for oil as the sausages will soon start to render their grease.) Turn the heat to medium and brown the sausages on all sides, taking care that they are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove the sausages to a medium bowl. Pour off the grease and add the wine, simmering over medium heat to reduce to about 1/4 cup liquid, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the reduced wine over the sausages and wipe the skillet clean.
• Cook the pork chops: Add the canola oil to the same skillet. Sprinkle the pork chops on all sides with salt. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the pork chops in a single layer and brown on all sides over medium heat, 5 to 8 minutes total. Remove the pork chops to the bowl with the sausages. Leave the grease in the skillet.
• Make the sauce: Stir the onions and garlic into the same skillet and cook over medium-low heat until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt. Stir in the canned and cherry tomatoes with 1/2 cup water and simmer gently until the sauce is somewhat thick and tasty, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir the sausages and pork (and any meat juices) back into the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, then stir in the cheese, red wine vinegar and basil leaves. Taste for seasoning.
• Cook the pasta: Bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a generous handful of salt and bring the water back to a boil. Taste the water. It should be salty like seawater. Add the pasta and stir with a large slotted spoon to ensure the pasta does not stick as it cooks. Cook until still quite firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• Finish the dish: Spoon the meat over the pasta in individual bowls or serve in a large bowl, family style. You can also just leave the pot of meat and sauce and the pasta separate and let people serve themselves.

MEATBALLS A LA PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Dice the smoked mozzarella into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside. In a food processor, pulse the shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until blended. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the beef and pork and, using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until combined. Form into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs. Insert 1 cube smoked mozzarella into the center of each meatball and form the meat around it, enclosing the cheese. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour equal parts olive oil and vegetable oil to fill the pan halfway. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. In batches, fry the meatballs until dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Place the fried meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet. Put in the oven and bake until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then serve immediately with marinara sauce, if desired.
• Photograph by Joseph DeLeo

STEAK PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the steak all over with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and sear until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the garlic to the skillet. Once it sizzles, add the onion and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften slightly, about 4 minutes. Add the pepperoncini, tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes and 3/4 cup water and stir to combine. Bring to a rapid simmer, then nestle the steak in the sauce and simmer, turning once, until medium rare, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest about 5 minutes. Continue simmering the sauce until thickened, about 3 more minutes. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and divide among plates. Top with the sauce and parsley. Serve with focaccia.

PORK SHOULDER PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
• Cook the sausages: Heat a Dutch oven over high heat and add the olive oil. Use a pair of metal tongs to arrange the sausages in a single layer in the hot oil. Reduce the heat to medium and brown the sausages on all sides until they are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the sausages to a plate and set aside.
• Cook the pork shoulder: Season the chunks of pork shoulder on all sides with salt. Add the pork to the Dutch oven in a single layer and brown it on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes on each side. Stir in the onions, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the white wine and cook, stirring often, until all of the liquid cooks out, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in both the canned and fresh tomatoes, along with the anchovy fillets and fish sauce. Cover the pot and place it in the center of the oven. Cook until the meat is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Finish the meat: Remove the pot from the oven and use a large spoon to skim off any excess fat or impurities from the surface. Let the sauce rest on the stovetop on low heat while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the pasta: Fill a large pot with 4 quarts water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add 4 tablespoons salt and bring the water back to a boil. Taste the water. It should be salty like seawater. Add the pasta and cook, stirring it with a large slotted spoon to ensure it does not clump or stick to the pot, until it is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, place it in a large bowl and toss it with the butter and a pinch of salt.
• Finish the dish: Stir the sausages into the sauce and then stir in the Parmesan, red wine vinegar and basil leaves. Taste for seasoning. Divide the pasta among individual bowls and serve the sauce and meat ladled over it, or serve it in a large bowl family-style.

STEAK PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the rolls cut-side up on a baking sheet, brush with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and bake until lightly toasted, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season the steaks all over with salt and pepper.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet and cook the steaks until they reach the desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Remove to a cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, add the roasted peppers, garlic, onions and pepper flakes to the skillet. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the onions have started to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds. Add the wine, stirring and scraping the bottom to deglaze, another 30 seconds. Add the stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepperoncini and oregano. Bring to simmer and cook for a couple minutes to allow the flavors to come together. Remove from the heat and taste, adjusting the seasonings if needed.
• Slice the steak and shingle over the top of the skillet. Sprinkle over the parsley and Parmesan cheese. Serve with the toasted ciabatta rolls.

PORK CHOPS ALLA PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork chops to the skillet and cook until they are brown and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted horizontally into the pork registers 160 degrees F, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the pork chops to a plate and tent with foil to keep them warm.
• Add the onion to the same skillet and saute over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, herbes de Provence, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer until the flavors blend and the juices thicken slightly, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and more red pepper flakes. Return the pork chops and any accumulated juices from the plate to the skillet and turn the pork chops to coat with the sauce.
• Place 1 pork chop on each plate. Spoon the sauce over the pork chops. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

STEAK WITH PIZZAIOLA SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce. If using fresh tomatoes, roughly chop them. Place in a pan with the garlic, oil, oregano or marjoram and season to taste. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins, stirring once or twice. Take off the heat, stir in the basil, then set aside.
• When ready to serve, heat a heavy-based frying pan until you can feel a strong heat rising. Smear the oil on both sides of the steak and season each side. Slap the steak into the centre of the pan and adjust the heat to medium-high. Cook for 6 mins, turning halfway through - this is for medium rare. For a medium steak, allow 7-8 mins in total, allow 8-10 mins for well done.
• Remove from the pan to a warm platter and leave to stand for 5 mins. Cut in two and serve drizzled with any juices and topped with the sauce.