italian recipes and more from fabio viviani

Cashew Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Lentils

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 cup raw lentils, rinsed
2 cloves of Garlic
2 sprig of rosemary
Salt and Pepper to taste
3 tbsp Extra light olive oil
1 pork tenderloin (1 1/4 lb)
3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup cashew nuts, toasted
2 tbsp fresh Oregano, chopped

Directions:

1) Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2) Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the lentils, Garlic, Rosemary and 1 tsp salt; simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender for 20-25 mins. Drain.

3) Add 1 tbsp of the oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork with salt and pepper and cook, till brown on all sides, then transfer to the oven and roast until cooked through, for about 10 minutes, let rest for 5 more.

4) In a large skillet add the remaining 2 tbsp oil, and add celery, carrot, onion, Cashew and Oregano, and cook till caramelized.

5) Transfer to a bowl and add the rest of the ingredient and serve with the pork.

6) ENJOY!!

Penne with Zucchini, Ricotta Salata and Mint

Serve 6

Ingredients:

2 lbs small zucchini grated with the large part of a cheese grater
3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of Salt and Black Pepper
3 tbsp Aged balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
21 pinches of dried crushed red pepper
2 lbs penne
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup crumbled ricotta salata

Directions:

1) Sautee zucchini until tender in a bit of olive oil, about 5 minutes.

2) Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite.

3) Drain all but 1 cup. Add pasta and water to zucchini mixture in the sauté pan, then add the rest of the ingredient but the ricotta and cook 3 minutes more.

4) Season to taste with salt and pepper. Finish with ricotta salata

Linguine alle Vongole – Lunguini Clams

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Homemade pasta dough rolled and cut in ½ inch ribbons
4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 cup fish broth or clam juice
2 lbs fresh or small clams in shells
5 cloves of Garlic crushed
1 tbsp of butter
½ cup fresh parsley chopped
10 small leaf of basil
1 cup dry white wine

Directions:

1) In 3-quart saucepan cook with 2 tbsp of olive oil, garlic on medium fire, Add the wine, deglaze and completely reduce

2) Add the broth and the clams and bring the fire on medium/low

3) Add the butter and boil gently, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until sauce is desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

4) Boil the linguini in salted water for only 2 minutes, drain them and add them to the pasta sauce, bring fire on high

5) Heat through, till the sauce is reduced and the pasta is coated

6) Drizzle with the rest of the olive oil and top with fresh chopped parsley

Pulled Beef and Barely Soup

Serves 6

Ingredients:

4 lb. chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes & patted dry
½ c extra light olive oil
2-½ qt. beef broth
I onion -diced
2 large carrots -sliced into ½ inch slices
2 celery stalks –sliced
1 parsley root –diced
1/3 c fresh parsley -minced
1 c barley
4 thyme sprigs
2 whole cloves
1tsp salt +more to taste

Directions:

1) Heat up 3 tbsp. of the olive oil in a large heavy bottom pan (cast iron works great) and brown the beef on all sides. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate & keep warm.

2) Work in batches as to not overcrowd the meet and add a little bit of oil in between if necessary.

3) Wipe the pan clean with paper towels and add another 4 tbsp. of the oil. Add the onion, parsley root, cloves herbs and sauté together for 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pot, pour in the broth, partially cover with a lid and allow it to cook for about 2 hours.

4) Add the sliced carrots, celery and barley and let it simmer for another 30 minutes or until the vegetables and barley are tender and the meat is falling apart. Remove from heat and discard the bay leaf, thyme sprigs and cloves.

5) Ladle into bowls and serve hot with a sprinkling of minced parsley.

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 c Bertolli Classico olive oil
10 flour tortillas
1 lb. roast chicken –shredded
1 tbsp. dry oregano
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 green bell pepper- diced
1 ½ qt. chicken broth
The juice from ½ lime
4 scallions –sliced
1/c c fresh basil –chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt + more to taste
¾ c Queso Blanco cheese –grated
1 large avocado –seeded & diced
Cilantro leaves for garnish
Sour cream for serving

Directions:

1) Heat 3 tbsp. of the olive oil in a heavy bottom pot and sauté the onions and peppers with a pinch of salt until translucent.

2) Add the tomatoes, cumin, oregano and broth and bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Add the shredded chicken to the pot and cook just until warmed through, a few minutes. Remove from flame, adjust seasonings and stir in the chopped basil and lime juice.

3) Meanwhile heat up the rest of the oil in a pot over high heat. Add the tortilla strips and fry until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

4) Ladle the soup into bowls, top with a few tortilla strips, some diced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, some of the cheese and green onions. Garnish with a cilantro leaf.

Spaghetti Carbonara with Pork Belly and Fresh Peas

Spaghetti Carbonara with Pork Belly and fresh Peas

Serve 4-6

Ingredients:

Pork belly:

½ tsp coarse kosher salt
½ tsp pepper, crushed
1 pound fresh pork belly
1 diced onion
1 diced carrot
½ celery stalk, diced
5 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed
2 tbsp dry white wine
½ cup low-salt chicken broth
2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup dry white wine

Spaghetti Carbonara:

½ cup heavy cream
1 pound spaghetti
1.5 cups shelled fresh or frozen peas
4 large eggs yolk
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions:

1) Rub pork with coarse salt and pepper

2) Preheat oven to 300 place pork belly in large ovenproof saucepan. Add onion, next 5 ingredients, 2 tbsp wine, and chicken broth. Bring to boil, cover, and transfer to oven.

3) Cook until pork is very tender when pierced with fork, turning every 30 minutes, about 2 hours.

4) Discard any fat on surface or the bottom of the of pork. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.

5) Add pork belly and cook until browned on all sides, stirring often, about 10 minutes, set aside

Spaghetti:

1) Cook in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Add peas; cook 1 minute longer.

2) Meanwhile, whisk eggs in large bowl. Add ¼ cup Parmesan and the cream; set aside. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Whisk ¼ cup hot cooking liquid into egg mixture. Add pasta; toss to coat.

3) Add mixture to skillet with pork and toss, adding more cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if dry. Season generously with black pepper. Divide among bowls and serve.

Italian Minestrone Soup with Butternut Squash

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2.5 qt. chicken broth or vegetable broth
3 tbsp. Bertolli Classico Olive Oil
1 onion diced
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 carrot –diced
3 celery stalks diced
1 large butternut squash cut into 1 inch cubes
1 bunch Swiss chard rinsed and chopped
4 of the Swiss chard stems diced
3 thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 x 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups fusilli pasta
20 basil leaves thinly sliced or torn
Salt to taste

Directions:

1) Heat up the olive oil in a large heavy bottom stockpot. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and sauté until translucent.

2) Add the garlic, carrot, celery, Swiss chard stems and butternut squash and give them a good stir.

3) Add the thyme and bay leaf and cook for another 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

4) Pour in the stock and diced tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes then add the pasta.

5) Cook another 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir in the chard and let it wilt for a couple minutes.

6) Remove from heat , discard the thyme and bay leaf, adjust seasoning then ladle into bowls and serve sprinkled with some basil and freshly grated Parmiginano Reggiano.