Italian Plt Recipes

ITALIAN POT ROAST (STRACOTTO ALLA FIORENTINA)

Steps:

• Trim some of the fat from the meat. Using a sharp knife, make cuts all over the meat and insert the garlic slices inside. Season generously with salt and pepper. If you like, you can tie the beef with kitchen strin, to help it keep it shape during cooking.
• In a large dutch oven pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the meat and brown on all sides until a nice brown crust develops, about 5 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and reserve.
• Lower the heat to medium low. Add the veggies and cook until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Then, add the wine and cook until it reduces slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Add the marinara sauce and stir to combine. Then, add back the chuck roast and the basil leaves. Cover, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, turning the roast at least once, until fork tender. If you think the sauce is drying out, you can add some water of beef broth.
• When done, remove the basil leaves and discard. Transfer the meat to a chopping board, remove the kitchen string (if used) and cut into smaller pieces. The sauce should be thick enough, but if it's not, you can continue boiling over medium-high heat, uncovered, until it reaches the desired thickness. Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
• Serve the roast over creamy polenta (or mashed potatoes), garnished with chopped parsley.

ITALIAN PLT

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Spread the prosciutto slices on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Broil until crispy, 2 1/2 to 5 minutes per baking sheet. Set aside the prosciutto.
• Add the sliced bread to the same baking sheets and broil until golden brown, 30 to 45 seconds. Flip and broil the other side until golden brown. Remove and let cool.
• Add the sherry and honey to a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Add the arugula, basil and Pickled Onions. Toss until evenly coated.
• For each sandwich, line up 3 slices of toasted bread, then spread a thin layer of Garlic Aioli on each slice. Top 2 slices with crispy prosciutto, then add some Roasted Tomatoes and arugula salad. Place 1 of the built sandwiches on top of another. Top with the remaining piece of Aioli-dressed toast for a triple-decker club. Repeat the build until you have 4 massive PLTS (save the remaining roasted tomatoes for another use)! Slice in half--or don't; just take a bite.
• Combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and let the salt and sugar dissolve, about 2 minutes. Add the sliced red onion. Turn off the heat and let sit until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil. (For easy clean up!)
• Add the tomatoes, thyme, 1/4 cup of the olive oil and some salt and pepper to a large bowl. Toss to evenly coat. Spread the tomatoes on the prepared baking sheets.
• Put the head of garlic on a piece of foil, then drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Seal the foil. Place the tomato pans and garlic in the oven and roast until the tomatoes are roasty and the garlic has become pure gold, 45 to 55 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Remove the garlic from the foil and squeeze the flesh into a small bowl. Add the mayonnaise and stir until combined.

PANCETTA, LETTUCE AND TOMATO (PLT) WITH BURRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Split the focaccia in half horizontally and place cut-side up on a baking sheet. Arrange the pancetta over the bottom piece of focaccia and brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Brush the top piece of focaccia with the remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Bake, using tongs to evenly redistribute the shrunken pancetta halfway through baking, until the pancetta is golden and the focaccia is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the basil, mayonnaise and lemon zest and juice in a small bowl.
• Transfer both pieces of focaccia to a cutting board. Top the pancetta with the tomatoes. Cut each burrata ball into quarters with a sharp knife and spread evenly over the tomatoes. Top with the lettuce. Spread the basil mayonnaise on the top piece of focaccia and place on the lettuce. Cut the PLT into 4 or 6 pieces.

OPEN FACED PLT

Steps:

• Whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and zest in a small bowl to blend. Set the mayonnaise mixture aside.
• Toast the bread on a panini grill or griddle until golden brown. Spread the mayonnaise mixture over each slice of toast. Arrange the prosciutto over the toasts, dividing equally. Top with the arugula, then the tomatoes. Drizzle the oil over the sandwiches, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut the sandwiches into 3 equal pieces and serve.

PLT - PANCETTA, LETTUCE AND TOMATO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Before putting together sandwich, make a plate of arugula and sliced tomatoes and set aside with unsalted butter.
• Butter 1 side of each bread slice, then put 4 slices, buttered side down, on a work surface. Top the bread slices with the pancetta, distributing it evenly. Top each with a second slice of bread, buttered side up.
• Heat a cast iron skillet or grill pan until hot. Place the sandwiches in the skillet and top with a weight, such as another skillet. Cook until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes, then turn the sandwiches and replace the weight. Cook until the second side is well browned, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the sandwiches to a work surface and remove the top slice of bread from each sandwich. Spread the underside of those slices with the basil mayonnaise. Top the pancetta with the tomato slices, pepper to taste, and arugula leaves. Replace the top slice of bread, cut the sandwiches in half, and serve immediately.
• Take the roll of pancetta, and dice into about 1-inch cubes. Drizzle some olive oil into a saute pan on medium heat. Add pancetta to heated oil and cook until crispy. Pour the cooked cubes with fat, into a bowl and allow to cool.
• Place basil leaves in blender and puree until almost fine. Add mayonnaise to blender and season with freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Puree together until smooth.

ITALIAN POT ROAST

Steps:

• Cut roast in half. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, onion, wine, salt, basil, oregano, garlic and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender. , Remove meat to a serving platter; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices; transfer to a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with meat.