Orecchiette Pasta With Broiled Feta Cheese Recipes

HOMEMADE ORECCHIETTE 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.
• Work with one portion of 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. Pick up knife with a rounded tip. Carefully hold one side of the dough with your index finger. Hold the knife in your other hand. Gently drag the small piece of dough towards you. Lift up the knife by the end in such a way that you get a thicker edge. You'll obtain a small disk of dough, thinner in the centre. Press the disk gently against your thumb and it will curve.
• Proceed the same way with the rest of the dough. Transfer orecchiette onto a floured surface and sprinkle with more semolina flour. Do not overlap orecchiette or they will stick together. Let dry for about 30 minutes before cooking.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CORN, JALAPEñO, FETA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until it is just short of al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
• While pasta cooks, make the sauce: In a 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add jalapeño, and cook until softened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add corn, and cook until it begins to brown in spots, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt. Add 1/4 cup of pasta water and bring to simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add pasta to skillet, tossing to coat with sauce. Add feta cheese and an additional 1/4 cup of pasta water, tossing until pasta is slick and glossy with sauce. If needed, add in another 1/4 cup pasta water. Stir in basil. Transfer to a large bowl and scatter with remaining basil. Season with flaky salt, if desired.

ORECCHIETTE AL RAGU DI BRACIOLE (PASTA WITH BEEF RAGU AND BRACIOLE)

Steps:

• Pound the beef cutlets 1/4-inch thin. Add the cheese, parsley and garlic to a small bowl and toss. Divide evenly over each cutlet. Roll up each cutlet and tie with butcher's twine to secure and to make a roll. Sprinkle each roll with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef rolls and the cubed beef and brown on all sides. Remove to a plate once browned. Add a touch more olive oil to the pan and add the carrots and onions and saute until tender. Add the wine and simmer for a minute or so, and then scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir in the passata and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, add the beef back into the pot and cover with a lid. Cook on low until thick and the meat begins to fall apart, flipping the rolls occasionally, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. (If too dry, add a half cup of water; if too loose, remove the lid to finish thickening).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette, cook until al dente and drain.
• Remove the bay leaves and discard from the sauce. Carefully remove the braciole to a cutting board and cut off the butcher's twine. Slice the beef rolls into rounds. Add the pasta to the sauce and toss all together. Serve on a large platter and top with the braciole rounds and sprinkle with lots of pecorino cheese.

ORECCHIETTE WITH GARBANZOS, TOMATOES, FETA, AND MINT

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain.
• Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, 6 tablespoons olive oil, chopped mint, green onions, chopped cilantro, and garlic in large bowl. Season to taste with salt.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add garbanzo beans and sauté until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add garbanzo beans and pasta to tomato mixture in bowl; toss to coat. Add feta; toss briefly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint and cilantro sprigs. Serve warm or let stand at room temperature up to 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

PENNE WITH BROILED VEGETABLES AND FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta and place in large bowl.
• Meanwhile, combine zucchini and bell pepper in medium bowl. Add 3 tablespoons vinaigrette and toss to coat. Arrange vegetables on broiler pan; sprinkle with pepper. Broil vegetables until just tender and beginning to brown, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Add vegetables to bowl with pasta. Mix in remaining vinaigrette, cheese and mint. Season with salt and pepper.

ORECCHIETTE WITH BROILED FETA, PEPPERS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with 7 tablespoons of the olive oil, the mint and 2 tablespoons of the oregano; season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
• Preheat the broiler. Roast the peppers under the broiler, turning, until charred. Transfer to a plastic bag and let steam for 15 minutes.
• Peel the peppers, discarding the cores, ribs and seeds; cut the peppers into 1/4 -inch strips.
• Brush the feta with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, sprinkle with pepper and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of oregano and broil until golden on both sides.
• Broil the sausages, turning, until cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board and cover with foil.
• Cook the pasta in a stockpot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Drain well, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the tomatoes; add the pepper strips. Slice the sausage, crumble the feta and toss both with the pasta; add some of the cooking water if the pasta seems dry.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE PASTA WITH BROILED FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Toss tomatoes, mint, and oil together.
• Preheat broiler.
• Brush feta with oil and sprinkle with oregano.
• Broil feta, til browned.
• Toss together tomato mixture, cooked pasta, roasted peppers, sausages and pasta.
• Add pasta water til perfect sauciness is achieved.
• Crack pepper and season with salt.
• Crumble broiled feta cheese over top.
• Crack more pepper on top.
• yummy.