Month: December 2017

Bollito Makes A Christmas Day Dinner

Posted on by Tommaso De Poi

Bollito

Bollito is a dish prevalent in the northern part of Italy especially in the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont. It typically consists of a variety of meats, usually tougher cuts of beef or veal, that are gently boiled for about 3 hours in a broth made from vegetables and herbs. The result is tender, flavorful meat in rich, delicious broth. A good bollito requires plenty of time to cook, fresh herbs, and carefully selected meats. Bollito can be served on its own or paired with boiled vegetables, homemade sauces, or mostarda (candied fruit in a mustard-based syrup). In Piedmont, ``bollito misto`` is prevalent, which features hen and cotechino (pork sausage) in addition to beef and veal. This simple and hearty dish is a classic winter staple for many Italian families and an emblem of Italian home-cooking.

  • Prep Time15 min
  • Cook Time3 hr
  • Total Time3 hr 15 min

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ lbs. beef (ideal cuts for this recipe include: fore shank, short ribs, brisket, bottom sirloin, chuck steak, flank steak, or round steak)
  • 1 carrot
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 15 grams kosher salt
  • 1 onion
  • 1 bunch of parsley
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 sprig of thyme
  • 4 whole black peppercorns

Preparation

1

Tie the meat with kitchen twine (any of the cuts listed above can be used in this recipe). Fill a tall pot with water and place over medium heat. Peel the onion and stick the three cloves into the onion. Peel the carrot and cut it into pieces that are about 1 inch in length. Tie the bay leaves, parsley, and thyme together using kitchen twine. Place the onion, carrot, celery, and herbs in the water.

2

Once the water is boiling, add the salt and the meat. It is very important that the meat is immersed in the water only after it has started to boil consistently, not a moment before.

3

After a few minutes, foam will begin to gather on the surface of the water. Remove all of the foam with a skimmer and then add the black peppercorns to the pot. Reduce the heat to low.

4

Cook for about 3 hours ensuring that the water remains at a gentle, but consistent boil throughout. Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the water using a slotted spoon.

Roasted Veal and Potatoes

Posted on by Tommaso De Poi

Roasted Veal and Potatoes

Roasted Veal and Potatoes is a common Christmas Day meal.

  • Prep Time5 min
  • Cook Time10 min
  • Total Time15 min

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. veal tenderloin
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • 1 garlic clove, cut in half
  • 2 sage leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ladle of warm beef broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparations

1

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Tie the veal with kitchen twine and season with salt and pepper on all sides. In a pot large enough to hold the meat, heat the olive oil over medium heat and brown the meat on all sides. Use two wooden spoons to carefully turn the meat.

2

Add the white wine and allow it to evaporate. Next, add the herbs, beef broth, and garlic. Allow the flavors to mix for a minute or two and then roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn the meat and baste frequently while it’s cooking. If the pan starts to dry up, add more warm beef broth.

3

Turn off the oven and allow the veal to rest for 10 minutes in the oven. Then, drain the liquid from the pot and strain it. Remove the twine and cut the meat into even slices. Serve with the strained sauce.

Spaghetti alle Vongole

Posted on by Tommaso De Poi

Spaghetti alle Vongole

Spaghetti Alle Vongole or Spaghetti with clams is a classic dish any time of year, but at Christmas, this dish often takes center stage.

  • Prep Time20 min
  • Cook Time25 min
  • Total Time45 min

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ lbs. clams
  • 10.5 oz. spaghetti
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparations

1

Preparing the clams: the day before cooking, clean the clams by placing them in a bowl of salted cold water for at least 12 hours. Immediately before cooking, rinse the clams under cold water to ensure that all sand has been removed.

2

Place the rinsed clams, garlic, and white wine in a skillet over high heat. Let the wine evaporate, cover the pan tightly with the lid, and wait until the clams open completely, this should take about 3 minutes. Remove the clams and garlic. Drain the liquid, strain, and reserve.

3

In the same pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for about 1 minute. Return the clams and filtered liquid to the pan and heat for 2 minutes.

4

Finely chop the parsley and cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until it is almost al dente.

5

Drain the spaghetti and add to the pan with the clams. Stir for a few seconds and serve immediately with sprinkled parsley and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Roasted baccalà with Tomatoes and Potatoes

Posted on by Tommaso De Poi

Roasted baccalà with Tomatoes and Potatoes

This is a classic Italian Christmas Eve Dish

  • Prep Time20 min
  • Cook Time35 min
  • Total Time55 min

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lbs. prepared salt cod/baccalà (see step 1)
  • 1 lb. potatoes, cut into thin slices
  • 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt to taste

Preparation Instructions

1

Preparing the salt cod: Three days prior to cooking, soak the pieces of salt cod in a large pan with cold water. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator for three days to rehydrate the fish and remove the salt. Be sure to flip the pieces of fish occasionally and replace the water every 8 hours. Immediately before cooking, rinse the cod with cold water and pat dry to remove any excess salt. Cut the salt cod into cubes about 2 inches long.

2

Pre-heat the oven to 355 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, a small ladle of water (about 2 ounces), and a pinch of salt. Once the onions are transparent, add the white wine and wait for it to evaporate. Next, add the tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the garlic and reserve 2 tablespoons of sauce then place the rest in a baking dish.

3

Meanwhile, in another pan heat the remaining olive oil and sauté the potato slices for 4 minutes. Then, add the potatoes to the baking dish with the tomatoes and stir.

4

Place the salt cod in the baking dish on top of the layer of potatoes and tomatoes and top with the reserved sauce. Cover and bake for 20 minutes at 355 degrees. Serve immediately.