Crostini Alla Romana Recipes

RENAISSANCE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl combine the raisins, vinegar and 1 cup of water. Let stand at least 10 minutes. Strain the liquid into a bowl and reserve the raisins for garnish.
• Add the pine nuts, the butter and the sugar to a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar is melted but not caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour in half of the vinegar and water mixture, then the flour, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes dense. Discard the remaining vinegar and water mixture. Add the prosciutto, sprinkle with a little bit of black pepper and remove from the heat.
• Coat the bread slices with oil and arrange them on a sheet pan. Bake in the oven until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Spread the prosciutto mixture on the crostini and arrange on a serving platter. Garnish with the reserved raisins and serve.

CROSTINI

Steps:

• Set the oven to broil at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, butter and garlic. Set over medium heat, and cook until butter has melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Dip each slice of bread into the garlic mixture, turning to coat each side. Place Parmesan cheese on a plate. Press one side of each piece of bread into the cheese, and place cheese side up on a baking sheet.
• Broil on the middle rack of the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown.

CROSTINI ALLA NORMA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the baguette slices on a sheet pan, brush the tops with olive oil, then bake until lightly toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a board or platter and set aside.
• Add the eggplant, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to the sheet pan. Toss well and roast, tossing occasionally, until very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• When the eggplant is done, in a large (12-inch) skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low. Add the onion and cook, tossing occasionally, until the onions are translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook just until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the cooked eggplant, tomatoes, 1/4 cup basil and the red wine vinegar, and continue to cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have completely fallen apart and the mixture has thickened, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the mixture onto the baguette slices, top with the remaining basil and the ricotta salata, and serve warm or at room temperature.

MANICOTTI ALLA ROMANA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until translucent. Saute garlic for 1 minute and stir in ground beef. Cook until well browned and crumbled. Season with salt and set aside to cool.
• Cook spinach according to package directions. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add manicotti shells and parboil for half of the time recommended on the package. Drain and cover with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent the shells from cracking.
• To the ground beef mixture add the cooked spinach and ricotta cheese. When the mixture is cool, add the beaten eggs. Spread 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Gently drain the manicotti shells and carefully stuff each one with the meat and cheese mixture; place shells in prepared dish. Lightly cover the dish with plastic wrap or a clean, damp towel to prevent shells from cracking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prepare the white sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and chicken bouillon. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to bubble. Stir in half and half and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Pour or ladle the sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
• Stir the basil into the remaining spaghetti sauce. Carefully pour or ladle spaghetti sauce over the white sauce, trying to layer the sauces without mixing.
• Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes more.

GIADA'S CROSTINI ALLA ROMANA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the slices of ciabatta on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake until crisp and golden around the edges, about 8 minutes.
• Remove the bread from the oven.
• Place the prosciutto slices and mozzarella on the crostini toast and return to the oven to melt the cheese, about 8 more minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
• Transfer the crostini to a serving plate.
• Sprinkle fresh basil over and serve immediatley.

BUCATINI AMATRICIANA ALLA ROMANA

Steps:

• In a skillet sauté onion and garlic in a sufficient amount of olive oil.
• When they are well cooked, add the crumbled bacon and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper (or red pepper).
• *if you are using the tinned tomatoes, mush them up in small pieces.
• Bring to boil and cook for several minutes until the flavours are well blended and some of the extra liquid is evaporated.
• Meanwhile cook the pasta al dente, and drain.
• Toss the tomato mixture together with the pasta, serve with plenty of freshly grated cheese.

CROSTINI ROMANI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Generously butter a small casserole dish. At one end, stand one slice of bread up against side of casserole. Follow it with a slice of mozzarella and continue until entire casserole is filled loosely with bread and mozzarella. Dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Bake until bread is toasted and mozzarella is bubbly on edges, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small pan, stir together remaining 3 tablespoons butter, anchovy paste and milk. Heat until mixture is warm, stirring so that it is smooth and loose.
• When casserole is done, remove from oven and spoon sauce on top. Spoon onto plates, making sure to get a little sauce on each plate.