Duffs Pesto Recipes

DUFF'S PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• Mound the flour in the center of a counter or large cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour 3 to 4 inches wide. Crack the eggs into the well and add the yolks and salt. Using a fork, break the yolks and begin to beat the eggs as if you were making scrambled eggs.
• Continue stirring the eggs in large circles with the fork, slowly incorporating the flour from the inner edges of the well until the mixture becomes a thick mass and is difficult to stir, about 3 minutes. Using a bench scraper or rubber spatula, fold the loose flour from the edges into the thick mass, then knead until a smooth dough forms. Discard any excess flour.
• Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. (The dough can be made 1 day ahead. Store it in the refrigerator tightly wrapped and let it come to room temperature before rolling.)
• Secure the pasta attachment to a stand mixer or, if using a hand-crank machine, attach it to the counter. Set the machine to the widest setting. Unwrap the dough and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Wrap 3 of the pieces and set aside while you work with the remaining piece of dough.
• Flatten the dough into a rectangle and lightly dust it with flour. Roll it through the pasta machine at the widest setting. Fold the dough in thirds like a letter and feed it through the pasta machine. Repeat the folding and feeding of the dough through the machine 2 more times. (Folding and rolling it in this manner helps strengthen and smooth the dough.)
• Set the pasta machine to the next setting (one setting thinner than the widest). Flour the dough as needed and feed it through the machine. Repeat one more time.
• Adjust the machine to the next thinnest setting and feed the dough through 2 times. Continue changing the setting and feeding the dough through 2 times for each setting until you have fed the dough through the second-to-last setting. The sheet of pasta should be thin enough so that you can see your hand through it.
• To make pappardelle, cut the sheet crosswise into 10- to 12-inch-long pieces, then cut each piece with a chef's knife into 1-inch-wide noodles. Lightly toss the noodles with a little flour on a baking sheet to prevent sticking. Cover with a dry kitchen towel while you repeat the process with the remaining dough.
• To make hand-shaped fusilli, cut the sheet crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Wrap them around a thin dowel, skewer or chopstick, forming a corkscrew-like shape, then gently slide each one onto a baking sheet. Lightly toss the fusilli with a little flour to prevent sticking. Cover with a dry kitchen towel while you repeat the process with the remaining dough. (Making fusilli is great to do with kids as a group.)
• Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, 3 to 4 minutes.

PESTO

Steps:

• Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.

PROPER PESTO

Steps:

• Crush garlic and pinch of kosher salt in a mortar with the pestle until garlic is mashed and paste-like, 1 or 2 minutes. Add basil in 3 or 4 additions, crushing and pounding down the leaves until they form a fairly fine paste, about 8 minutes or more depending on size of leaves and thickness of stems. Add and pound in pine nuts.
• Transfer a handful of grated cheese to mortar and pound into the sauce. Add another handful of cheese and incorporate into the mixture. Continue adding cheese a handful at a time until completely incorporated, about 5 minutes.
• Drizzle in olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time, pounding it into the sauce. When all the olive oil has been added and emulsified into the mixture, transfer pesto to a bowl and drizzle surface with olive oil.

THE BEST CLASSIC PESTO

Steps:

• Pulse basil and garlic in a food processor about 8 times until finely chopped. Add toasted pine nuts and salt; turn processor on low and drizzle olive oil through the chute until everything is incorporated. Add Parmesan cheese and lemon juice; pulse 2 times.

PESTO CHICKEN PUFF PASTIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C.
• Dice the chicken into half-inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the chicken and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove from the heat.
• Roll out the puff pastry sheets and cut each in half (cut the shortest distance through the middle so you are left with two short, fat rectangles not long thin ones).
• Add the pesto sauce and tomatoes to the chicken and stir to mix.
• Spoon equal amounts of the chicken mixture onto the pastry sheets, covering half of each sheet but leaving a gap at the edge to seal the pastry.
• Top the chicken mixture with the grated mozzarella cheese.
• Beat the egg. Brush egg around the inside edge of each pasty then fold the pastry over to seal. Crimp with a fork to reinforce the seal.
• Brush each pasty with the beaten egg.
• Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes (mine take closer to 20) until the pastry is golden.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

DILL PESTO

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, place the dill, parsley, nuts, and garlic.
• Whirl until finely minced.
• Add the oil and cheese, and process until blended.
• Transfer to a small bowl, cover and chill.