If you read my last post on Tuesday then you will know that I was set a challenge by Francesco Mazzei to create an authentic Italian two course meal using Grana Padano cheese. Well, I figured that it was pretty tough to include Grana Padano in a pudding so I created a very freefrom plum frangipane tart that was incredibly delicious!
Today I am going to share with you my recipe for fresh gluten-free pasta filled with pancetta, butternut squash and Grana Padano cheese. I hope it is good enough to get me through to the next round of the challenge where I will get to cook for the man himself!
As always, do let me know if you make this. It is fiddly, I am not going to lie…but the end result is well worth the effort. Just don’t try to make it when you have an hour until ‘feeding time’ (AKA kids tea time) because you will find it very stressful…I learnt the hard way so you don’t have to!
Little piles of grated Grana Padano for the crisps
Easy Grana Padano Crisps
I would say that a pasta machine is probably vital for this recipe. I don’t usually share recipes that require special machines or ingredients, but I know that there will be some of you out there who will be keen to try making their own pasta so I share this for you!
With thanks to my lovely big sister who bought me the machine for Christmas! Get one on your Christmas list…there’s nothing like fresh pasta and nobody would ever know that this is gluten-free!!
Fresh Gluten-free Filled Pasta with Grana Padano Crisps
Ingredients
- For the pasta:
- 180 g Bobs Red Mill glutenfree flour
- 20 g tapioca starch - plus extra for rolling
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 2 tsp xanthan gum
- 3 large eggs beaten
- For the filling:
- 1 shallot - finely chopped
- 50 g pancetta
- 200 g squash or pumpkin cooked - steam for 30 minutes and pureed (or bought pumpkin puree)
- 50 g grana padano cheese - grated
- Pinch nutmeg
- Black pepper to taste
- For the topping:
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 20 sage leaves
- For the Grana Padano crisps - optional:
- 80 g Grana Padano cheese - finely grated
Instructions
- Make the filling for the pasta first
- Cook the chopped shallot with the pancetta over a low heat until the shallot is soft and pancetta cooked through
- Add the pumpkin or squash puree, cheese, nutmeg and a grind of black pepper. Set aside until the pasta is ready
- To make the pasta combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add the beaten egg and bring the mixture together into a dough
- Empty the dough onto a clean well floured surface (I use tapioca starch for this)
- Knead the dough well, adding extra tapioca starch if required, until smooth
- Divide the dough into four pieces and place three pieces back into the bowl
- Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel while you work with the quarter left out
- Flatten the dough a little, then pass through a pasta machine on the thickest setting. Bring the dough back together after the pass and add more tapioca starch if needed. Pass through the pasta machine again. Don't worry if it fall apart as it goes through...the more you pass it through the smoother it gets!
- Pass the pasta through the machine approx. 10 times. Towards the end of those 10 times the pasta should be coming through as a sheet which you can fold in half and pass through again
- Once you have the pasta coming through as a smooth piece, reduce the thickness setting on the machine and pass it through again. Continue until you have got to the second from thinest setting on the machine
- At this point take a round cutter (whatever size you like, but I used one with an approx. 8cm diameter) and cut circles from the dough - you could cut square and make ravioli
- Place 1tsp of your filling in the centre of each circle and fold the circle over to form a semi-circle. Press the edges of the pasta together well to ensure no filling leaks out. Place to one side until you have repeated the process with all the pasta dough
- Once you have all your little parcels, cook them in boiling water with a little salt and olive oil for approx. 4-5 minutes until al-dente (with a bite)
- While they are cooking place your sage leaves in a frying pan over a medium-high heat with the olive oil and cook until the leaves are crisp (approx. 5 minutes)
- Once the pasta is ready, place it in a large serving dish and drizzle with the sage oil. Crumble the sage leaves over the top and scatter with extra Grana Padano cheese and or/Grana Padano crisps
- To make the crisps line a baking tray with baking paper and sprinkle the grated cheese in 8 small circles, approx. 5cm in diameter. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees (180 degree fan) for 8-10 minutes until crisp and golden. Leave to cool before removing from the tray
This is part of my entry into the Francesco Mazzei – ‘Top Chef’ Blogger Competition. I was provided with some ingredients and a Supermarket voucher to undertake the challenge.
I shared this recipe with:
Alida says
This looks great! Grana Padano is a great cheese. We use Parmesan at home which is very similar, both are delicious though.
Your crisps and the pasta are so well made, I just had dinner and I am getting hungry again. I love pasta.
And even better this is gluten free!
Hope all is well. Take care x
Vicki Montague says
Thank you so much Alida. That means a LOT coming from you 😉
Emma says
I love the idea of a pasta machine but fear it would just sit in the larder next to the bead machine! Good luck in the challenge. #freefromfridays
Vicki Montague says
It’s only small that is in its favour! Get the bread machine out!!
Verily Victoria Vocalises says
This looks and sounds amazing – and I particularly like the look of those crisps 🙂 #freefromfridays
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Vicki! They are very yummy 😉
Kate - glutenfreealchemist says
Well done with the pasta Vicki. I was so thrilled when I achieved a decent dough! I must try yours and see the difference. But I agree…. it is incredibly fiddly and took forever to make the ravioli. Looks like you have very sensibly folded them rather than making circles (which was a complete faff)!
Good luck for getting to the next round xx
Vicki Montague says
I must try yours!!!! I made circles then folded them…I think sticking two together may have been easier??
Tabitha says
Wow this pasta looks amazing. I look forward to the next stage of the challenge!! Good luck.
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Tabitha!