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Say Cheese! Pancetta Smoked Mozzarella Skewers

partysugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:15:42 -0700

A couple of weeks ago I read an article on the Atlantic's food blog that recommended making a grilled skewer appetizer with smoked cheese cubes wrapped in pancetta. The story reminded me of a delicious tapa I had years ago in a Spanish dive bar. Anxious to re-create the dish, I headed to the store and purchased thinly sliced pancetta and smoked mozzarella. There's really no recipe, you simply wrap a 1/2-inch cube of cheese with pancetta, skewer, and place on the grill. This is where I ran into trouble. The cheese melted before the pancetta could fully cook, sticking to the grill. I transferred the skewers to a frying pan to try and salvage them, but the cheese continued to melt, clumping together. While the final bite tasted wonderful, the technique needs some fine tuning.

Do you have any advice for getting the pancetta to cook before the cheese melts? Have you ever made cheese skewers?

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Mushroom Crostata Is a Scrumptious Starter

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:07 -0800

Looking for the perfect appetizer to serve at Thanksgiving dinner? Look no further than this delicious mushroom and pancetta crostata. A crostata is an Italian free-form tart that's similar to a savory pie. The dough is simple to make and requires 20 minutes of chill time. The filling, a mixture of mushrooms, pancetta, thyme, and cheese is rich and luxurious.

It makes an elegant start to a party when sliced into individual portions and served with a glass of sparkling wine. If you dislike mushrooms, get creative with the crostata technique. Figs and goat cheese, grapes and ricotta, and pears and blue cheese are combinations that would make great fillings. To learn how I made it, read more.

Crostata With Mushrooms and Pancetta
From Giada's Kitchen

Ingredients

For pastry crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons ice water
For mushroom filling:
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 ounces diced pancetta
2 shallots, minced
1 pound assorted mushrooms, such as cremini, shiitake, and button
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup (1 ounce) grated smoked mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup ( 1 ounce) grated fontina cheese
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Directions

For the crust: In a food processor combine the flour and salt, and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is finely chopped and the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the mascarpone and lemon juice and pulse a few times. Add the ice water and run the machine just until the mixture is moist and crumbly, but do not form a ball.

Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Wrap the dough tightly and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
For the mushroom filling: Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp and golden, about four minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked pancetta to a small bowl.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Add the shallots and cook for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until all of the moisture has evaporated, about 12 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cooked pancetta along with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

Place an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F.
Unwrap the chilled dough and place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick. Lift the parchment paper and transfer it and the dough to the baking sheet.
Stir the mozzarella and fontina into the cooled mushroom filling and spread in the center of the dough circle, leaving a 2-inch border.

Sprinkle the filling with Parmesan.
Fold the dough border up over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating the edge of the pastry. Brush the crust with beaten egg. Bake the crostata until the crust is golden about 25 minutes. Slice and serve.

Serves 4.

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Burning Question: How Does Pancetta Differ From Prosciutto?

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:00:45 -0700

Aïda Mollenkamp prefers it to prosciutto, and PartySugar loves it wrapped around her peaches. But what exactly is pancetta?

Referred to as "Italian bacon," pancetta is an Italian charcuterie selection made from salt-cured, aged pork belly. It is not smoked like American bacon, so it has a mellower flavor and higher amount of moisture.

Unlike prosciutto - cured, Italian ham that is made from the hind leg of the pig and is often served thinly sliced and uncooked - pancetta is made from pig's belly, so it is higher in fat content. It is often cooked so its fat can be rendered to add depth to sauces, pastas, roasts, and sautés.

There are many gourmet varieties of pancetta (you can even make it yourself) but don't look for any Italian versions. They are banned from being imported into the United States. Which do you prefer? Pancetta or prosciutto?

Source

Perfect Summer Appetizer: Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches

partysugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:30:15 -0700

When I saw this recipe for pancetta-wrapped peaches in the July issue of Food and Wine magazine, I knew I had to make it. The recipe takes four simple ingredients - peaches, pancetta, basil, and balsamic vinegar - and turns them into one incredibly delicious, perfectly balanced dish. The peaches are sweet and juicy, the pancetta is crisp and salty, and the basil is fresh and fragrant. The vinegar adds a light tanginess that makes this appetizer superbly gourmet. I brought them to a barbecue where they were paired with the host's refreshing, potent sangria. The coupling was the hit of the party! If there is one recipe you make this summer, make this one. To learn the technique, read more.

Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches
Modified from Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients

16 thin slices of pancetta
2 medium freestone peaches - halved, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each
Salt and freshly ground pepper
16 basil leaves
toothpicks
Balsamic vinegar, for drizzling

Directions

Lay the pancetta slices out on a work surface. Set a peach wedge at the edge of each slice, season with salt and pepper and top with a basil leaf. Roll up the pancetta to enclose the peaches and secure with a toothpick.
Heat a grill to medium. Place the peaches on the grill and grill, turning so each side is cooked, until the pancetta is crisp and the peaches are soft, 20-25 minutes.
Transfer to a platter and lightly drizzle the peaches with aged balsamic vinegar and serve.

Makes 16 appetizers.

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'Wich of the Week: 'Ino's Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:00:24 -0700

I've let Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book languish on my desk for too long, so this weekend I finally decided to make a recipe from this famously excessive sandwich collection. (Stay tuned for a full cookbook review.) Since I was having friends over for a casual dinner, I avoided the more labor-intensive recipes in favor of a simple but delicious sandwich that would showcase the fresh tomatoes I bought that morning at the farmers market.

This PLT - pancetta, lettuce, and tomato - is a variation on the classic BLT (from New York's 'Ino) using Italian pancetta and arugula. Silverton's book is designed so that, if you choose, you can prepare each ingredient without shortcuts - for instance, braising artichokes rather than buying jarred ones or even making bread from scratch. Since the recipe called for it, I opted to make my own lemon aioli from Silverton's recipe. But despite my ambition, this dinner ended up being something of a disaster. To find out why, read more.

Though I followed the directions for baking the pancetta in the oven, my very fatty (and delicious) cuts of pork weren't crisping up enough, so I transferred them to the broiler with the intention of leaving them in just a few more minutes. But you know I mentioned I was having folks over for dinner? Well, I got a bit distracted and forgot about the pancetta until it was too late; the gourmet meat burned to a crisp. (I documented the disaster in the gallery below.)

I salvaged enough to make one PLT, but the other guests got TLTs, made with turkey I happened to have on hand. (You can see the turkey lurking in the background of the photos.) Given, the sandwiches were still tasty, even with turkey. Drizzling the tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkling them with kosher salt really brought out the summery flavor, and the lemon aioli tasted tangy, garlicky, and remarkably fresh. I substituted soft ciabatta for the sliced sourdough, and the pillowy bread went wonderfully with the Italian flavors. So I definitely recommend the recipes, with one caveat: It's better if you don't burn the pancetta.

'Ino's Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato
Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book

Ingredients

1 recipe lemon aioli
8 ounces pancetta, sliced into 16 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling over the tomatoes
2 or 3 ripe tomatoes, core end discarded, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
8 slices white or whole-wheat sourdough bread*
Approximately 2 cups arugula leaves, loosely packed (about 1 to 1 1/2 ounces)

Directions

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the slices of pancetta about 1/2 inch apart from each other on a baking sheet. Cook them for about 20 minutes, until they're cooked through, but not crisp.
Drizzle the olive oil over the tomato slices, and sprinkle them with salt. Allow them to sit for 5-10 minutes.
Grill the bread.
To assemble the sandwiches, spoon about 1 tablespoon of lemon aioli on one side of each slice of bread. Arrange the slices of pancetta on the bottom slices of bread, and place the tomato slices over it. Arrange the arugula on top and cover with the top slice of bread. Cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

*I used one loaf of ciabatta, sliced horizontally, then cut into four separate sandwiches. Since I was using the ciabatta I skipped step 4 and left my bread untoasted.

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Lemon Aioli
Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book

Ingredients

2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 extra-large egg yolk
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, or 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil and 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2-3 teaspoons warm water
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

Using a mortar and pestle, pulverize the garlic and salt to a smooth paste. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, smash the garlic with the flat side of a chef's knife or a garlic press.
If your mortar is too small to whisk the entire amount of oil in (or you don't have one), transfer the mashed garlic and salt to the bowl of an electric mixer or a medium stainless-steel bowl. Whisk in the egg yolk by hand.
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, drop by drop, whisking constantly. As the mixture begins to thicken, add a teaspoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of warm water.
Once you've added almost half of the oil, place the bowl in the mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix on medium speed. Or continue to whisk in the oil by hand. Pour the oil in a slow, steady trickle, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
As the mixture thickens, add a little more of the lemon juice and water and continue whisking until the remaining olive oil is completely incorporated and the sauce is thickened. Season with lemon juice and zest and salt to taste.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

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Yummy Link: Elegant Pancetta Cups

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:28:59 -0700

I saw these elegant pancetta cups and was pretty much in heaven. I can't wait to make bite-sized bacon cups for my next party. What shall I fill them with? - The Kitchn

Sunday Dinner: Turkey Breast Roulade with Mushrooms and Pancetta

YumSugar — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:11:11 -0800

If you're looking for an alternative to a traditional roasted turkey, you may want to consider a turkey roulade. I found this recipe for a rolled turkey breast - get your butcher to double butterfly it ahead of time - filled with crimini, porcini and pancetta. It looks wonderfully gourmet and will be sure to be a hit on Thanksgiving. If you can't wait until then, start your feasting today, get the recipe, just read more

Turkey Breast Roulade with Crimini, Porcini, and Pancetta
From Bon Appetit November 2004

1 cup water
3/4 ounce (about 3/4 cup) dried porcini mushrooms

4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta (Italian bacon), coarsely chopped
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
6 ounces fresh crimini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread

1 2 3/4-pound turkey breast half with skin, boned but skin left intact, double butterflied
2 cups (about) low-salt chicken broth
4 tablespoons (about) unsalted butter, room temperature, divided

2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine

Bring 1 cup water and dried mushrooms to boil in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Let stand until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving soaking liquid. Chop mushrooms.
Sauté pancetta in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towel to drain. Add 2 tablespoons oil to drippings in skillet. Add crimini mushrooms and onion. Sauté until mushrooms begin to brown and no liquid remains, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in pancetta and chopped porcini, then parsley, rosemary, and fennel seeds. Mix in breadcrumbs; season stuffing to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in enough reserved mushroom-soaking liquid by tablespoonfuls to moisten (about 3). Cool stuffing completely.
Cover opened turkey breast with waxed paper. Using rolling pin, pound to 1/2-inch-thick rectangle (about 14x10 inches). Remove waxed paper. Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper. Spread stuffing over, leaving 1-inch plain border. Sprinkle with additional mushroom-soaking liquid if dry. Starting at 1 long side, roll up turkey jelly-roll style. Secure with metal turkey-lacing pins. Tie roll crosswise with kitchen string every 1 1/2 to 2 inches to hold shape. Tie roll once lengthwise to secure ends. Remove metal pins. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet or heavy roasting pan over medium-high heat. Brown turkey roll on all sides, turning often, about 12 minutes. Pour 1/3 cup broth over. Brush with 1 teaspoon butter. Cover skillet with foil. Roast turkey 30 minutes, basting 2 more times with 1/3 cup broth and brushing with 1 teaspoon butter. Remove foil. Roast until turkey is brown and thermometer inserted into center registers 170°F, basting with broth and brushing with more butter occasionally, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer turkey to platter; tent loosely with foil. Reserve skillet or pan.
Strain pan juices into 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add more broth, if necessary, to measure 1 1/4 cups liquid. Blend 2 tablespoons butter and flour in small bowl. Place roasting skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add 11/4 cups pan-juice mixture, wine, and remaining mushroom-soaking liquid, leaving any sediment in bowl. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Gradually whisk in flour paste. Simmer until gravy thickens, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove strings from turkey. Cut roast crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve with gravy.

Prep tip: Ask your butcher to prepare the turkey for the roulade by double butterflying the breast to make a large, thin rectangle.

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Today's Special: Poached Eggs with Pancetta and Tossed Mesclun

partysugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:58:32 -0700

The last time I was in Buenos Aries I had the most amazing salad at Bar Uriarte. I hastily wrote down the ingredients on a scrap of paper and was determined to recreate the salad once I arrived back stateside. Even though I lost the piece of paper, the memory of this salad still lives on in my brain. I even begged my sister to go back to Uriarte and steal a menu, but she refused to support my crazed cooking antics. When I saw this recipe for poached eggs with pancetta on top of a bed of crispy greens, I immediately thought of the deliciousness that was had that sunny summer afternoon in Argentina. Although the Uriarte salad was a little different, I'm going to give this recipe a few tries, tweaking it until I come up with the salad that I so clearly envision in my mind. It's simple, easy, and makes for a wonderful weeknight dinner, so read more

Poached Eggs with Pancetta and Tossed Mesclun
from Food & Wine magazine

8 large eggs
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces thickly sliced pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 large shallot, minced
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped tarragon
2 scallions, thinly sliced
10 cups mesclun (about 6 ounces)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Toast points or steamed, sliced new potatoes, for serving

Bring a large, deep skillet filled with 2 inches of water to a simmer.
Crack each egg into a cup and gently slide it into the water. Cook until the whites are solid but the yolks are still soft, 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to a paper towellined plate to drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering.
Add the pancetta and cook over moderately high heat until crisp, about 3 minutes. Add the shallot and cook until softened, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the vinegar, tarragon and scallions.
In a bowl, toss the mesclun with the dressing; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the salad to plates, top with the eggs and serve with toast points.

Serves 4.

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Pancetta Smoked Mozzarella Skewers

partysugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:02:59 -0700

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Spring Forward Side: Slow-Sautéed Asparagus with Pancetta

YumSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:03:31 -0800

Spring is starting to peek its little head out from the blanket of Winter. Spring vegetables - like asparagus - are starting to show up at markets, and tonight we spring the clocks forward. To get ready for all this springing about, I dug up a recipe for slow-sautéed asparagus with pancetta. The Spring veggie lightens up the meal, but the pancetta makes it rather comforting - a plus for those of you not ready to give up Winter. To check out the recipe for a simple but delicious dish, read more.

Slow-Sautéed Asparagus with Pancetta
From Leslie Revsin via Fine Cooking

Ingredients

1-1/2 oz. pancetta, sliced 1/8 inch thick, cut into 1/4 x 3/4-inch strips (to yield 1/4 cup)
1 Tbs. olive oil, preferably fruity and full flavored
2 small cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
2 to 3 tsp. unsalted butter
1-3/4 lb. medium to large asparagus (28 to 32 spears), fibrous ends snapped off, stems peeled, rinsed, and drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon wedges for serving

Directions

Set a plate lined with paper towels near the stovetop. Set a heavy 10-inch skillet over medium heat with the pancetta and olive oil. Cook the pancetta, stirring frequently, until light brown and slightly crisp (don't let it fully crisp and harden), about 10 min. Remove from the heat and transfer the pancetta with a slotted spoon to drain on the prepared plate (leave the fat in the pan).
Set the skillet back over medium heat and cook the garlic, stirring continually, 30 seconds or until just starting to turn light gold. Transfer the garlic with the slotted spoon to drain with the pancetta.
If less than 1 Tbs. fat remains in the pan, add enough olive oil to compensate. Melt the butter in the pan, add the asparagus, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the spears are light golden brown and tender (they won't brown evenly) with a slight edge of crispness, 20 to 30 min.
Transfer the spears to a serving platter, scatter the reserved pancetta and garlic over them, and serve with the lemon wedges.

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