Pesto Alla Genovese Food

PESTO ALLA GENOVESE

Steps:

• Pound the basil, garlic, salt and pine nuts together in the mortar until they are a paste. Start by grinding the mass against the sides of the mortar, using a twisting motion of the pestle. Once everything has been reduced to a paste, you can start pounding.
• Slowly add the cheeses, about a tablespoon at a time, continuing to pound.
• Once the cheeses are fully incorporated, scrape it into a bowl and begin slowly adding the olive oil, stirring constantly.
• Transfer any leftovers into a sealable jar, and float a thin layer of oil on top.

PESTO ALLA GENOVESE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the basil, salt, and pepper and process for a few seconds until the basil is chopped. Add the cheese, pine nuts, and garlic and, while the processor is running, add the oil in a thin, steady stream until a mostly smooth sauce is formed. Transfer pesto to a bowl and set aside. (Note: Pesto may be made 1 day in advance and kept, refrigerated, in an airtight container, until ready to use. If making in advance, be sure to cover the top of the pesto with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent the pesto from darkening. Pesto may also be frozen in the same manner in small quantities for use at a later date.)
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, according to package directions, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. In a large bowl, toss pasta with pesto. Add a little of the reserved cooking liquid if pasta seems to dry. Serve immediately.

PESTO GENOVESE

Steps:

• Put basil, garlic, and pine nuts on a cutting board. With a mezzaluna or sharp knife, finely chop the ingredients and add to a jar. Add the Parmigiano cheese, salt, and 1/2 cup olive oil and mix all the ingredients well. Top up with the remaining extra-virgin olive oil.
• Cook's Note: Pesto can be served fresh or it can be preserved in the refrigerator or freezer in an air-tight container. If freezing, omit the cheese and drizzle the top with oil. Thaw, then stir in the cheese.

SPAGHETTI GENOVESE

Steps:

• Pour a kettle of boiling water into a very large pan until half full. Return to the boil, then add the potatoes and spaghetti, and a little salt. Cook for 10 minutes until the potatoes and pasta are almost tender. Tip in the green beans and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Drain well, reserving 4 tbsp of the cooking liquid. Return the potatoes, pasta and beans to the pan, then stir in the fresh pesto and reserved cooking liquid. Season to taste, divide between four serving plates and drizzle with a little olive oil.

MINESTRONE ALLA GENOVESE (WITH PESTO)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil.
• Saute onion and garlic 2-3 minutes.
• Add cabbage, celery, and carrots. Saute 5 minutes.
• Add broth, water, tomato paste, and herbs. Partially cover pan and simmer 30 minutes.
• Add zucchini, beans, and salami; cook 15 minutes.
• Add pasta; cook until al dente.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Stir in pesto sauce just before serving.
• Serve in large bowls with grated cheese.

RIGATONI ALLA GENOVESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook pancetta until most of fat is rendered out, about 6 minutes. Remove cooked pancetta with a slotted spoon and save.
• Raise heat to high and transfer meat to the pot. Season with salt. Cook and stir until liquid releases from beef and begins to evaporate, and meat browns, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-high. Add celery, carrots, reserved cooked pancetta, salt and pepper. Cook and stir about 5 minutes. Add a heaping tablespoon of tomato paste, bay leaf, and white wine. Cook and stir, scraping up the brownings from the bottom of the pan, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sliced onions. Reduce heat to medium. Cover pot and cook 30 minutes without stirring. After 30 minutes, stir onions and meat until well mixed. Cover again, and cook another 30 minutes. Stir.
• Reduce heat to low and cook uncovered 8 to 10 hours, stirring occasionally. Skim off fat as mixture cooks. If sauce seems to reduce too much, add water or broth as needed to maintain a sauce-like consistency. Cook until beef and onions seem to melt into each other.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until just barely al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.
• Add rigatoni to the sauce and cook until heated through. Serve topped with a pinch of marjoram and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.