Rigatoni Alla Siciliana Food

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.

RIGATONI ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Trim eggplant and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• In a large skillet, cook eggplant and garlic in oil for 7 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon.
• Add oregano, salt and red pepper flakes.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While sauce is simmering, cook pasta following package directions.
• Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
• Toss drained pasta with sauce.
• Add reserved pasta water, in 1/4 cup increments, until desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in cheese, allow to melt slightly and serve.

INVOLTINI ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the olives, capers, red pepper flakes, pine nuts and currants. Stir in the marinara (Basic Tomato Sauce) and wine. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, orange zest, parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and salt and pepper, and mix well.
• Season each piece of fish with salt and pepper and place flat on a work surface. Spread the bread crumb mixture evenly across each of the fish pieces and carefully roll each like a jelly roll, securing each roll with string or with toothpicks. Place the rolls in the skillet with the sauce. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Place 1 roll on each of 4 warmed dinner plates, spoon some of the sauce over each, and garnish with chopped parsley, torn oregano, fennel fronds and olive oil.

SICILIAN STEAK (BISTECCA ALLA SICILIANA)

Steps:

• Marinate steaks in garlic and olive oil for 30 minutes (15 minutes on each side).
• Combine cheese, oregano and breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
• Dip steaks in the bread mixture.
• Cook steaks under broiler, turning once.
• For rare, cook 8-10 minutes; for medium cook 12-14 minutes; for well done cook 18-20 minutes.