Tuscan Picci Pasta Recipes

PICI ALL'AGLIONE

Steps:

• Bring a large 8 to 12-quart pot of water to a boil. Heat the olive oil, garlic and hot peppers in a large 12 to 14-inch saute pan until the garlic is fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, adding more hot peppers or red pepper flakes to make it spicier, if desired.
• When the water has come to a boil, add 2 tablespoons of salt. Add the fresh pasta and cook for about 3 minutes or according to package instructions if store-bought. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• Add the pasta to the sauce and cook for about 1 minute, adding pasta water as needed to make the sauce slightly loose and glossy. Top with basil and serve immediately.

TUSCAN PICCI PASTA

Steps:

• Place flour on a clean work surface, forming a well in the center. Add eggs to center of well; beat with a fork. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup water, and salt. Use your hands to slowly mix the flour into the liquid. When dough forms and comes together, lift it out of remaining flour on the work surface using a bench scraper. Sift flour on work surface; set aside. Knead dough for 2 to 3 minutes, adding a little more flour if necessary to prevent sticking.
• Brush top of dough with remaining teaspoon olive oil to prevent skin from forming, and cover with an inverted bowl. Let rest for 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle two baking sheets or platters with cornmeal. Divide dough into eight pieces. Lightly flour a work surface with a little of the reserved flour, and roll out or pat one piece of dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut dough crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Transfer dough to a clean surface, and using your hands, roll each strip into a strand of spaghetti. Place on prepared baking sheets or platters. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Cook pasta until al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain, and toss with 2 tablespoons cheese. Stir parsley and basil into sauce. Add pasta to sauce, and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese.

HOMEMADE PICI PASTA WITH CARBONARA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the homemade pici pasta: Whisk the flour, semolina and salt together in a large bowl. Heat 1 cup water in a small saucepan to a simmer. Add the olive oil and just 2/3 cup of the water to the flours and mix to combine. If the dough still looks a little dry, add more water, a small splash at a time, until the dough comes together. Gather the dough into a ball and transfer to a work surface. Knead the dough until elastic and somewhat smooth, about 3 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour and up to 4.
• Lightly flour a work surface with semolina. Divide the dough in two and roll each piece out to be about 1/4-inch-thick or a little less. Cut all of the dough into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-wide ribbons. Working one ribbon at a time, use the palms of your hands to roll it into a tube shape, pressing firmly to thin it out slightly and make elongated, uneven, wormlike strands. Repeat with the remaining pasta ribbons, transferring the pici to a sheet tray and lightly dusting with semolina as you go.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the pici to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 4 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pici.
• For the carbonara sauce: Put the pancetta in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a paper-towel lined plate with a slotted spoon. Pour about 1 tablespoon of the rendered pancetta fat into a large bowl.
• Add the eggs, Parmesan, pecorino and a generous amount of pepper to the bowl with the fat and whisk to combine.
• Add the cooked pici to the bowl with the cheese and egg mixture, then add a splash of the cooking water and the pancetta and toss until creamy and well coated. Add a little more pasta water to loosen if desired.
• Add to a serving dish and top with parsley. Serve with additional Parmesan.

CARRABBA'S TAGLIARINI PICCHI PACCHIU

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, simmer sliced garlic in olive oil over very low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients and stir over medium heat another 2 minutes.
• Toss with cooked angel hair pasta and serve as a side dish for chicken or shrimp.

PICCHI-PACCHI

Steps:

• In a large pan heat oil and saute onion and garlic until soft.
• Add drained anchovies and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, breaking them up with the spoon as you stir.
• Add tomatoes and basil, season lightly and simmer,covered for 20 minutes or so, until smooth and thick. Adjust seasoning. No grated cheese is served with this sauce.