Cavatelli Pasta With Lobster Spring Peas And Mascarpone Recipes

CAVATELLI PASTA WITH LOBSTER, SPRING PEAS, AND MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Cook lobsters (if necessary):
• In 10- to 12-quart pot, bring salted water to boil. Plunge in 2 lobsters headfirst, then boil, covered, 10 (for 1 1/4-pound lobsters) to 11 minutes (for 1 1/2-pound lobsters) from time they enter water. Transfer with tongs to sink to drain. Return water to boil, and cook remaining lobsters in same manner.
• When lobsters are cool enough to handle, remove meat from tails and claws. Discard or reserve for another use tomalley, any roe, and shells, and wipe off any coagulated white albumin from meat. Cut meat into 3/4-inch pieces and chill, covered, at least 1 hour.
• Make cavatelli:
• Bring large pot salted water to boil. Add cavatelli and boil until cavatelli float to surface, about 8 minutes. Drain, then immediately plunge cavatelli into ice water to stop cooking. Transfer to large bowl, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, and toss to coat.
• In heavy large sauté pan over moderately high heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add shallots and garlic and sauté until translucent, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock, peas, parsley, thyme, chives, pasta, Mascarpone, and lobster. Stir to combine, then simmer until lobster is heated through, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

HOMEMADE CAVATELLI PASTA

Steps:

• Mix semolina flour and salt in a large bowl or on a marble work surface. Make a well in the center.
• Pour water into the well a little at a time, mixing it with the flour. Add as much water as needed to make a sticky but compact dough.
• Knead dough with your hands by flattening the ball, stretching it, and folding the top towards the center. Turn 45 degrees and repeat until dough is elastic and smooth, but not too soft, about 10 minutes.
• Shape dough into a ball. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using. If you are using the cavatelli within a few hours or the following day, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
• Work with one portion of the dough at a time, keeping the remaining dough covered to keep it from drying out. Dust a work surface with semolina flour; roll out the dough to make a rope, about 1/3 inch thick.
• Cut off little 1/3-inch-thick pieces. Press and gently drag the small piece of dough towards you with your index and middle finger. The two sides will curl inwards, leaving hollow spaces.
• Proceed the same way with the rest of the dough. Transfer cavatelli to a floured surface and sprinkle with more semolina flour. Do not overlap cavatelli or they will stick together. Let dry for about 30 minutes before cooking.

LOBSTER FRA DIAVALO WITH RICOTTA CAVATELLI

Steps:

• Fit electric mixer with a dough hook. In the bowl of the mixer, combine ricotta, flour, 1 tablespoon oil, and salt. Form a well in the middle of the mixture and crack yolks into middle of the well. Using the dough hook, mix until the ingredients just come together. Wrap dough in moist towel and let rest in a warm location for 10 minutes. Roll dough through a pasta machine starting at the largest setting and slowly working to the number 4 setting. Take the sheet of dough and cut into strips about 1/2-inches wide by 10 inches long, then pass through cavatelli machine. Place the pasta on sheet tray and freeze until ready to use.
• Bring 2 large pots of water to boil and salt heavily (salty like the sea). While water is coming to boil, pass tomatoes through a food mill and then chinoise to remove seeds. Set aside. Thinly slice garlic and set aside. Remove the tail and claws of the lobsters and place the claws in 1 of the pots of boiling water. Turn the heat off and wait 2 minutes. Add the tails. Let steep 6 minutes more and remove tails and claws to ice water. When cooled, remove meat, chop and reserve. Add cavatelli to other pot and cook about 8 minutes.
• In saute pan, heat 4 ounces oil and add garlic, cooking 1 minute until garlic starts to just brown. Add sliced chili and cook 1 more minute. Stir in 1/4 cup dry white wine, cooking 1 minute, then add tomato puree. Cook 3 minutes more. When pasta is cooked, add it to the sauce with the lobster and cook 2 minutes. Add butter and turn off heat. Stir and season, to taste, with sea salt and white pepper.
• To serve, divide the pasta among 4 bowls, tear the basil leaves with your hand and sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

CAVATELLI WITH ASPARAGUS, LEMON AND FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Place the woody stems from the asparagus in a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer the pureed asparagus to a fine-mesh strainer set over a small bowl. Let the juices drain, 5 to 10 minutes, pressing down lightly on the puree with a wooden spoon occasionally. Reserve the juice and discard the pulp.
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the ricotta, Parmesan and 1 tablespoon lemon juice with some salt and pepper. Add the lemon zest and set aside.
• Once the water has boiled, add the cavatelli and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• Meanwhile, add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Remove the garlic, then add the sliced asparagus and saute until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain the cavatelli directly into the skillet with the asparagus. Add about half of the asparagus juice and allow to simmer for 1 minute. Add the remaining asparagus juice and the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and cook until the pasta is glossy, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with Pecorino-Romano, lemon zest, dollops of the whipped ricotta, basil and black pepper.