Gnocchi With Prosciutto Spring Peas And Chanterelles Recipes

GNOCCHI WITH PROSCIUTTO, SPRING PEAS, AND CHANTERELLES

Steps:

• Bring 2 pots, 1 large and 1 medium, with well-salted water to a boil over med. heat. Set up a bowl of well-salted ice water. Blanch the fresh peas in the med. pot of boiling water until they are cooked but still crunchy and then immediately plunge them into the salted ice water. Remove them from the ice water and reserve. Coat a large saute pan over med heat with olive oil. Add the smashed garlic cloves and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medhigh heat. When the garlic has become golden brown and is very aromatic, remove it; discard. Add the prosciutto and saute until it starts to get crispy, 1-2 min. Add the mushrooms and season with salt. Saute for 3-4 min, and TASTE to see if they are delicious. Add the peas and chicken stock. Season with salt, TASTE. Simmer until the stock has reduced by about half. While the stock is reducing, add the gnocchi to the large pot of salted boiling water. Cook the gnocchi until they float and get very puffy. The gnocchi should be really puffy. While the gnocchi is in the boiling water, add the butter to the pan with the mushroom mixture. Cook over low heat and swirl to incorporate. TASTE and adjust seasoning if needed. When the gnocchi are cooked, carefully remove them from the cooking water and add them to the pan with the mushrooms. Toss or stir to combine. Cook the gnocchi with mushroom mixture until it clings to the gnocchi. Add the grated Parmigiano and the chopped chives. Transfer to serving bowls and serve immediately.

POTATO GNOCCHI WITH SPRING PEAS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a pot with the water. Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes at a strong simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool for only a few minutes before you begin to pull the skins off. Discard the potato skins and, while still hot, pass the potatoes through a ricer into a bowl.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, to the riced potatoes and incorporate well. Add the flour in two stages, so you use just enough to bind the potato. Add the second half of the flour (and have some additional flour available, in case it's necessary) and mix well to form a dough.
• Divide the dough in half, and on a floured work surface, roll the first half of dough into a 1-inch-thick log. Cut the log into 1/2-inch-thick round pieces. Lay the pieces out, and with the back of a fork or your thumb, make an indentation on one side.
• Set aside and refrigerate until needed.
• Cook them in several quarts of boiling, salted water for 10 to15 seconds. They cook very quickly and are done when they float to the surface. Heat the cream in a saucepan, add the peas, and allow to simmer for several minutes. Add the butter to the cream, whisking in to incorporate well before adding the prosciutto. Pour the sauce over the drained gnocchi, stir gently in a large serving bowl, and serve immediately.

BUCATINI WITH CHANTERELLES, SPRING PEAS, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• If using fresh peas, parboil them in a small saucepan of boiling salted water until softened, 3-5 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Trim the tough ends and wilted spots from the mushrooms.
• Wipe them clean with a damp paper towel; slice them thin and set aside.
• Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Whack the garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife and add them along with the prosciutto to the oil.
• Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the mushrooms, season them lightly with salt and pepper, , and cook, stirring, until they are lightly browned and wilted, about 7 minutes.
• Pour in the tomatoes, season them lightly with salt and pepper, and bring the sauce to a boil.
• Lower heat so the sauce is at a lively simmer and cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in the peas and chopped parsley into the sauce and cook until the peas are tender, about 3 minutes.
• While the sauce is simmering, stir the bucatini into the boiling water; return to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and pour in about 3/4 of the sauce.
• Bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, tossing to coat the pasta with sauce.
• Check the seasoning, adding salt and pepper if needed.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the grated cheese.
• Transfer the pasta to a warm platter, top with the remaining sauce, and serve immediately.