Frascatelli With Parsley, Garlic And Pecorino
- 4 cups semolina; more for optional dusting
- Salt
- 13 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh red chili
- 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup grated pecorino Romano
- Dried red pepper flakes, optional
- On a work surface, spread semolina in a layer 1/2 inch thick.
- Have a bowl containing a quart of cold water ready.
- Line a large baking sheet with sides with parchment or waxed paper.
- Dip the fingers of one hand into cold water, and sprinkle semolina by flicking water off your hand.
- Repeat until semolina is well-speckled with droplets but not saturated.
- Use a dough scraper or spatula to gather semolina lightly into a mound.
- You will see tiny clumps of dough form.
- Place all the semolina in a large strainer, and sift it back over work surface.
- Spread tiny clumps that are left in strainer on baking sheet.
- Repeat Step 2 three or four times, until almost all the semolina is in clumps on baking sheet.
- The last quarter cup or so will be too damp to continue and should be discarded.
- If not cooking pasta immediately, sprinkle it lightly with additional semolina, and cover it loosely with a clean cloth.
- It can be left up to 24 hours.
- Bring 4 quarts of well-salted water to a boil.
- Dump pasta clumps in and cook about a minute, until water just about returns to boil.
- Place olive oil in a 4-quart saute pan or shallow saucepan.
- While pasta cooks, warm olive oil over medium heat and add garlic and fresh chili so they start to sizzle.
- Use a skimmer to drain pasta from boiling water and transfer it to the pan with oil.
- Some moisture should be left clinging to pasta.
- Alternatively, reserve about 3 cups of pasta water, then drain pasta in a colander.
- Gently stir pasta in oil for a few minutes, gradually adding enough pasta water to keep mixture quite moist, like a risotto.
- Fold in parsley, 4 tablespoons cheese and, if desired, dried pepper flakes.
- Divide among 6 soup plates, dust each portion with remaining cheese and serve.
dusting, salt, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh red chili, flatleaf, romano, red pepper
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8136 (may not work)