Heels with Green Ricotta: Tacconi con Ricotta Verde
- Abruzzo broad noodles, recipe follows
- 1 pound spinach, trimmed, blanched and drained
- 1 pound goat-milk ricotta
- 1 cup freshly grated caciocavallo or pecorino Romano
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
- 4 egg whites, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- About 3/4 cup water
- Prepare the dough according to the recipe and roll it out to the second-thinnest setting on a pasta-rolling machine.
- Cut it into 4 or 5 sheets of equal size, flour each sheet well, and cut them into 1-inch squares.
- Set aside on sheet trays lined with kitchen towels.
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the spinach until finely chopped and add the ricotta, 1/4 cup of the grated cheese, and the nutmeg.
- Process until smooth, season with salt and pepper, and set aside in a warm place.
- Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
- Cook the pasta squares in the boiling water and cook until tender yet al dente, about 3 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of cooking water.
- Add half of this water to the ricotta mixture, then add the pasta to the ricotta mixture, and mix well.
- Add more water if necessary to keep it from becoming too "tight", season with salt and pepper.
- Divide evenly among 4 pasta bowls and top with grated pecorino.
- On a wooden board, place the flour in a mound.
- Form a well in the center and add the egg whites and salt.
- Add the water, a little at a time, while mixing in the flour and water with a fork.
- Using both hands, knead the dough into a ball, adding more flour as necessary, to obtain a smooth, pliable dough.
- Set the dough under an inverted bowl and let it rest 15 minutes.
- Yield: 1 pound of noodles
noodles, spinach, goatmilk, freshly grated caciocavallo, freshly grated nutmeg, salt, flour, egg whites, salt, water
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/heels-with-green-ricotta-tacconi-con-ricotta-verde-recipe.html (may not work)